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Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are scattered across the globe, dotting the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean, the west and east coasts of Africa, and the Indian Ocean.These low-lying highly indebted countries are on the frontlines of climate change and natural resource scarcity, already facing…

On August 31, 2022, my friend and colleague Gustavo Fonseca, the Director of Programs at the Global Environment Facility, unexpectedly passed. In his honor, we have dedicated our main meeting room at the GEF offices in Washington, DC as the Gustavo Fonseca Conference Room.Gustavo loved the GEF and…

In February, Gustavo Petro, the President of the Republic of Colombia announced that Cali will be the host city for the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) to be held from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1, 2024. “We bow to the most biodiverse…

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean face significant environmental challenges, compounded by their vulnerability to climate change impacts. Addressing wide-ranging challenges including biodiversity loss, land degradation, deforestation, water scarcity, food insecurity, and waste…

On this World Water Day, we celebrate water as a resource that sustains life on Earth and provides the basis for economic development and prosperity. World Water Day also reminds us that many people around the world face too much, too little, or too dirty water. Over-abstraction of water is…

At the crossroads of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan, among high and rugged mountain ranges lies Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve - the oldest nature reserve in Central Asia and a part of UNESCO's World Network of Biospheres and World Heritage List. Established in 1926 for its rich…

More than 820 million people in the world are affected by food insecurity and malnutrition. An additional 2 billion people globally suffer from “hidden hunger” - a lack of essential nutrients such as iron, vitamin A, and zinc. Demand for animal protein products continues to grow, supported by…

As the world is preparing to take stock of progress made to end pollution at the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility, we are reminded of the critical role we have in promoting environmental health and healthy living. In Senegal more than 2.7 million tons of solid waste are produced…

They journeyed from 11 countries on five continents. From as far as South Africa and as close as the United States: hundreds of firefighters working to dousing the wildfires that have done unparalleled damage to Canadian forests this year and sent plumes of thick smoke across North America. Their…

Women and girls are bearing a disproportionate burden in this time of environmental strain. Fires, storms, floods, and droughts have direct impacts on those tasked with collecting water, securing food, and caring for families. At the same time, women’s voices are often sidelined – or missing…