Summary
On Tuesday, 23 May 2017, Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson, opened the 52nd meeting of the GEF Council, noting that, in light of continuing environmental degradation, businesses now recognize environmental risk among the top five risks they face. Noting that the green energy revolution “seems to have reached the point of no return,” Ishii stressed the GEF’s role in helping achieve momentum for the transformation of key economic systems driving environmental degradation. Philipp Knill (Germany) was elected Co-Chair for the 52nd meeting of the GEF Council. Knill introduced the agenda, which the Council adopted.
Naoko Ishii updated the Council on the GEF 2020 Strategy. She highlighted: showcasing best practices on the ground; the GEF’s role in the “niches” of environmental finance architecture, including funding pilot activities in energy efficiency and support for enhanced climate action through the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) established under the Paris Agreement; and the revised GEF policies on institutional efficiency and gender issues. Council members discussed these and other issues, stressing the need to align the GEF 2020 Strategy with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Additional agenda items discussed on the first day of the Council’s 52nd meeting included: an update on the seventh replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund; the proposed policy on ethics and conflict of interest for Council members, alternates and advisers; the GEF business plan and corporate budget for fiscal year 2018; the Work Program; and an updated vision of the GEF relationship with the civil society.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage from the GEF Council Consultation Meeting with CSOs. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has produced a summary report from the 52nd GEF Council Meeting and 22nd Meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, which is abailable in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Leila Mead
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Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson, Philipp Knill, Council Co-Chair, and William Ehlers, GEF Secretariat. Knill expressed condolences to the UK for the victims of the Manchester bombing that took place on 22 May.
GEF CEO and Chairperson Naoko Ishii
Philipp Knill, 52nd GEF Council Co-Chair, Germany
Subhash Chandra Garg, Council member, India
Council members Peter Wisner, US, and Josceline Wheatley, UK
Jafar Barmaki, Council member, Iran (right)
Council member Carlos Rodriguez Brianza, Uruguay
Council member Caroline Eugene, Saint Lucia
Council member Mitsutoshi Kajikawa, Japan
A view of the room during the opening session
Council members following the presentation by Ishii updating the Council on GEF 2020
Edward Mountfield, World Bank
Peter Lallas, GEF Secretariat
A view of the dais during the session on the GEF Business Plan and Corporate Budget for fiscal year: Peter Lallas, GEF Secretariat, Edward Mountfield, World Bank, Juha Ilari Uitto, GEF Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson, Philipp Knill, Council Co-Chair, and William Ehlers, GEF Council Secretary
Peter Lallas, GEF Secretariat, Edward Mountfield, World Bank, and Juha Ilari Uitto, GEF IEO
Juha Ilari Uitto, GEF IEO
Stefan Marco Schwager, Switzerland
Council members Marita Olson, Sweden, and Peter Elder, Australia
Council members during the session
GEF CEO and Chairperson Naoko Ishii
Michela Izzo, GEF-CSO Network representative, reading a statement in plenary
Gustavo Fonseca, GEF Secretariat, Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson,
and Philipp Knill, Council Co-Chair, during the discussions on the Work Program
Participants exchange business cards
Council Members Zhongjing Wang, China, and Peter Wisner, US
