Hanoi (VNA) – The sixth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility(GEF) concluded on June 28 in the central city of Da Nang with 29 countriespledging to provide 4.1 billion USD for the next four years for numerous globalenvironment-related programmes.

“A clear majority of donors have stepped up their supportfor the GEF, signaling the urgency of the global environmental agenda, andtrust in the GEF to help tackle the problem and achieve even greater results,”said Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairwoman. “We need to forge the partnershipsthat will help transform the food, urban and energy systems in an integratedway. The GEF-7 is designed to do just that.”

She said at a closing ceremony press conference that she washappy that GEF-6 had developed a strategy and policy on how to protect theglobal environment leading up to the GEF-7.

“The GEF-6 was an opportunity for us to think about what wewill do in the next four years, and how we can care for nature. GEF-6 ended,but the next cycle has begun,” she said.

“We need changes on how to produce food, traffic, energy,power production, urban areas and economic systems.”

Ishii also highly appreciated the commitment of the Vietnamgovernment in pursuing green growth and dealing with plastic waste in the oceanas well as building regional partnerships in plastic waste management.

She said Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’smessage at the GEF-6 opening ceremony was clear and inspiring to participants,as he said Vietnam will not sacrifice the environment for economic growth andthe country will reach sustainable development goals.

Ishii noted how the GEF’s new investment cycle (GEF-7) putsan emphasis on addressing the underlying drivers of environmental degradationand will result in more climate benefits.

 “In GEF-7, the GEFwill double the target for greenhouse gas emissions mitigated from GEF projectscompared to the last funding cycle,” she said.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le CongThanh confirmed that the government of Vietnam will change from the traditionaleconomic model into a circular economy with the participation of the privatesector, community and government.

He said the country will reduce the disposal of plasticwaste into the ocean and gradually ban the use of plastic bags and single-usecups and straws.

Thanh said hosting the GEF-6 Assembly proved that Vietnamhas progressed in promoting sustainable development and environmentalprotection.

Achim Steiner, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)administrator and Vice Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group said thatthe GEF-6 Assembly convening in Vietnam is a welcome opportunity for the worldto address pressing environmental challenges and to develop opportunities, butalso to learn about Vietnam’s experience and lessons learnt over the past 20-30years.

Steiner also said the UNDP and Vietnam share a long historyof cooperation on national development strategies and programmes; 2018 marksthe 40th anniversary of co-operation.

As Vietnam seeks to define future pathways for development,Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals provide a useful framework.In responding to the fourth industrial revolution, technology choices will playan important role for economic growth and employment, coupled withopportunities associated with the emerging green economy and markets in which Vietnammust compete, he added.

The GEF-6 also recognised that the new strategy doubles thetarget for greenhouse gas emissions mitigated from GEF projects compared to thelast funding cycle, and increases by almost 50 percent the targets for theprotection of biodiversity and valuable ecosystems.

 “Today, theinternational community again gave GEF a strong vote of confidence through theendorsement of a 4.1 billion USD financial support package for the next fouryears. With this renewed mandate, GEF will be able to continue its importantrole as an impact investor in environmental programmes around the globe,” saidAxel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Vice President, Development Finance, andco-chair of the replenishment meeting.

GEF-7 comes at a critical time for the world, and will helpensure that the hopes and aspirations of millions of people are met withoutstretching Earth to a breaking point.

Peter Thomson, UNDP Special Envoy for Oceans, affirmed that Vietnam’smore than 3,000km coastline is facing challenges such as deteriorating coastalecosystems, rising sea levels and waste. The UN will continue to address theseissues in Vietnam in the future.

“Climate change and sea level rise are closely related andwhat happens on land also affects the sea. The government of Vietnam shouldissue strict policies on environmental protection in the fields of agriculture,tourism to raise people’s awareness on their responsibility to the oceans andto implement the Millennium Development Goal on Clean Water and CoastalCleanup," said Thomson.

The GEF6- Assembly drew the participation of more than 1,200participants from 183 member countries.

Since 1991, the GEF has provided over 17.9 billion USD ingrants and mobilised an additional 93.2 billion USD in co-financing for morethan 4,500 projects in 170 countries. -VNA