Negotiators at UNCCD COP 17 will consider a wide array of decisions on enhancing efforts to address desertification, land degradation and drought.

The successful end of 18 months of negotiations for the ninth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund “represents a renewed vote of confidence in multilateralism, in the GEF partnership, and in the importance of the global environment.” Many also urged prioritizing the private sector’s involvement and participants pointed to the vast finance gap all MEAs face.

Participants discussed the agenda for the Mountain Partnership going forward, including strong calls for reinforcing the science-policy interface and ensuring mountain issues are better reflected in climate and other international processes.

At their December 2025 meetings, the Councils of the family of funds managed by the GEF approved approximately USD 372 million in funding to support climate action, biodiversity conservation, pollution prevention and reduction, and integrated environmental action across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean.