The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council, at its 41st Council Meeting, approved decisions on the administration of the GEF, as well as a work programme including several biodiversity-related projects on protected areas, and an innovative International Waters initiative, the “Blue Forests” effort to estimate the carbon sequestration capacity of coastal habitats like mangroves, sea grass beds, coral reefs and salt marshes, and demonstrate their economic value. 

The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) approved US$1.08 billion in near-zero-interest loans and grants to support Bolivia, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Lao PDR, Mali, Mexico and Nepal in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

This project builds on the work of Adapta Sertao, a coalition of research institutions and NGOs that helps smallholder farmers become more resilient to climate change through an adapted agricultural system.

The UN body warns that the region could suffer more intense droughts and hurricanes with a severe impact on the economies and calls for urgent action to implement adaptation measures.