India, June 8 -- The Global Environment Facility (GEF), the world's largest multilateral environmental fund, held a series of meetings in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, between May 31, 2026 and June 5, 2026, and made decisions that will influence global efforts to tackle biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution for the rest of this decade.

The GEF Council, which governs different funds, met in three successive sessions during the week . The 71st Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council wrapped up GEF-8, the most ambitious funding cycle in the GEF's 35-year history, and launched GEF-9 with a pledge of $3.9 billion.

The 40th Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund (LDCF / SCCF) Council, which oversees the world's on...