Trudeau Charges World Leaders to Secure Better Future for Everyone, at Close of 7th GEF Assembly

Bennett Oghifo

As the seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (7th GEF Assembly) came to a close at the weekend in Vancouver, Canada with the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on world leaders to make good their promise to secure a better future for everyone.

According to officials, the 7th GEF Assembly, which took place from August 22-26, was an event for a critical stocktaking for 2030 goals to end pollution and nature loss, combat climate change, and propel inclusive, locally-led conservation. This builds on recent diplomatic breakthroughs on biodiversity loss, toxic chemicals, and the high seas.

It included the launch of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, a new source of funding for protecting species and ecosystems globally. The GEF was selected to manage the new fund at the COP15 Convention on Biological Diversity summit in December 2022 and its governing Council approved plans for this in June 2023 in Brasilia.

It brought together ministers, government officials, business leaders, environmentalists, leaders of international agencies and environmental conventions along with representatives of youth groups, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples to discuss solutions to ensure a healthy planet with healthy people.

Officials said the seventh GEF Assembly 

At the close of the final plenary, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: ”It is time to secure the promise of a better future for everyone; that is what we are doing here together.” 

Recent wildfires in Canada and other intense, extreme events around the globe, he said, have been driven by climate change and nature loss. Trudeau rejected the proposition that we must choose between improving quality of life and protecting nature, saying one helps us achieve the other. He also hailed the creation of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) and noted Canada’s initial contribution of CAD 200 million.

In the final plenary on Inclusive and Transformative Governance, Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Brazil, underscored that “solidarity is a value that needs to grow even more in international relations.” She also noted that the greatest expenses come from the impacts of climate change and not from the measures to avoid them.

In reference to the GBFF, she called for shared governance mechanisms that include recipient countries.

During the day, six more roundtables were also held, including on: promoting an Integrated Approach Towards Food Systems Transformation; the GEF’s Future with New Agreements and Emerging Themes; and Catalyzing Climate Resilience and Adapting to New Realities.

During the closing plenary, recommendations emerging from all roundtables held on Thursday and Friday were summarized for participants. Delegates also considered several administrative matters, including: amendments to the Instrument for Establishment of a Restructured GEF; Statement by the GEF Independent Evaluation Office; Statement by the GEF Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel; the report on the Eighth Replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund; and the report on the GEF Trust Fund.

During the closing, GEF CEO and Chairperson Rodríguez announced the retirement of William Ehlers, Council Secretary, expressing warm gratitude to his “close colleague and friend” for his 18 years of dedicated service.

In the evening, Assembly participants celebrated the successes of the week with a Special Art and Immersive Music Performance by Costa Rican Artist Carlos Hiller.

The Assembly featured high-level sessions, roundtables, side events, workshops, and networking opportunities for participants of all ages and backgrounds. Delegates also had an opportunity to visit environmental projects in the Vancouver area. The meeting was supported by a wide range of Canadian partners.