High-level discussions on governance and financing solutions for global environmental action will touch on the ninth replenishment cycle of the GEF (GEF-9), including its strategic priorities and programming directions.

The meeting focused on continued implementation of UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation and preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference, which will be co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal in December 2026.

Delegates met to prepare a set of draft decisions and documents to pave the way for the smooth operationalization of the Agreement. While they reached agreement on many issues, there were disagreements on the rules of procedure, the subsidiary bodies, and the financial rules and regulations.

With some countries and companies ready to begin mining critical minerals on the ocean floor, the Council is facing growing pressure to advance the draft exploitation regulations while ensuring environmental protection, equitable benefit-sharing, and legal certainty.