Canada announces contribution to Global Biodiversity Framework Fund to protect world’s nature
News release
August 24, 2023 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Global Affairs Canada
At home and on the world stage, Canada is taking action to protect nature and keep our planet healthy for generations to come.
In Montréal last December, global delegates at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) committed to creating the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) to help halt and reverse biodiversity loss and put nature on a path to recovery. Today, as Canada hosts the world once again—this time in Vancouver at the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility Assembly (GEF)—that fund was launched.
Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced that Canada will invest $200 million in the new fund, making Canada the first country to contribute.
Minister Hussen made the announcement in Vancouver, where he is co-hosting and chairing the GEF Assembly, which runs from August 22 to 26.
The GBFF will quickly mobilize new resources and disburse them to developing countries to support their efforts to protect and restore nature and grow resilient economies. Additionally, the new fund will invest in the world’s most diverse, rich and unique ecosystems through 3 critical innovations:
- supporting Indigenous and local action to protect and conserve biodiversity, with the goal of devoting as much as 20% of programming toward projects that support these initiatives
- delivering 25% of the fund through selected international financial institutions, a key way to increase resources through private sector involvement and to ensure policies are coherent
- prioritizing at least 36% of the fund’s resources to support the most vulnerable people, small island developing states and least developed countries
Minister Hussen also announced that Canada is providing an additional $22.8 million in funding for the GEF’s Eighth Replenishment to further support the GEF’s efforts to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. This additional funding builds on Canada’s initial contribution of $219 million to the GEF’s Eighth Replenishment, which was announced at COP15 and highlights Canada’s continued dedication to real action that will help end global biodiversity loss.
The GEF Assembly continues until Saturday, August 26.
Quotes
“Biodiversity is the critical foundation of our well-being and the health of our planet. The new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund will play a key role in addressing biodiversity loss. It will address it in developing countries, where the impacts of nature loss are highest; it will address it in a gender-responsive manner, including through cross-sectoral partnerships; it will address it in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, the original guardians of the lands and seas. Canada is making a significant contribution to this new fund and continuing to show our support for the GEF’s eight replenishment to ensure the protection of our planet’s biodiversity for generations to come.”
- Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development
“With today’s announcement, Canada is building on its commitment to keeping nature at the forefront in the fight against climate change. It has been just over 8 months since we hosted COP15, and momentum continues with the launch of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund. Now is the time for urgent implementation on preserving biodiversity, and implementation requires ambition, commitments and funding. We need others to join us to help the many vulnerable communities around the world get access to the resources they need to face the impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change.”
- Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“We welcome this important first contribution to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund from Canada. This funding is essential as we work to make good on the historic commitments to biodiversity made at COP15 in Montréal. Canada’s international leadership for the environment truly stands out and will have positive long-term effects on the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of nature. These moments will be remembered in the future as critical to the building of momentum toward a healthier and more biodiverse planet for everyone.”
- Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility
Associated links
- Canada helps lead the world to agreement on the monumental Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework
- Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework
- Canada welcomes international leaders to Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility
- Canada to host Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility
- Canada and the Global Environment Facility
- Global Environment Facility
- Seventh GEF Assembly
- Canada’s international climate finance
Contacts
Emily Heffernan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Development
Emily.Heffernan@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @CanadaDev
Like us on Facebook: Canada’s international development - Global Affairs Canada
Follow us on Instagram: @canadadev
Page details
- Date modified: