The GEF Council endorsed $65 million for biodiversity projects, including more than $18 million to support the development of biodiversity finance plans in 26 countries. GEF Council members, meeting virtually, also approved the establishment of a new Gustavo Fonseca Youth Conservation Leadership program to support the education of promising young conservationists from developing countries.

While most delegations seem to agree that there are negative effects surrounding plastic pollution, it was clear they have yet to find common ground on the details and contents of key substantive themes that will determine the scope and guide the implementation of the future international treaty.

The Global Environment Facility, civil society organizations, and representatives of multilateral environmental organizations highlight civil society’s important role and participation in implementation of global environmental conventions.

A concerted effort to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement would require a quadrupling of critical mineral requirements for clean energy technologies by 2040. The mining sector must reposition itself to supply these critical minerals, while ensuring they are extracted and traded in a responsible manner.