The Global Environment Facility is charged with financing the elimination of the most harmful chemicals, which are covered by the Stockholm Convention, the Minamata Convention, and the Montreal Protocol. The GEF also supports the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), the United Nations' policy framework to promote chemical safety around the world.
Three strategic objectives regarding chemicals and waste have been developed for GEF-8. Using a systems approach, the objectives aim to use GEF resources to unlock private and commercial finance to amplify the impact of GEF-supported work:
- Create, strengthen, and support the enabling environment and policy coherence to transform the manufacture, use, and sound management of chemicals and to eliminate waste and chemical pollution.
- Prevent future buildup of hazardous chemicals and waste in the environment.
- Eliminate hazardous chemicals and waste.