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The Global Environment Facility (GEF), established by donor governments in 1991 to pre-empt politically more radically alternative models of conservation finance proposed at the Rio Earth Summit, helps developing countries fund projects and programs that are claimed to protect the global environment. GEF grants support projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. Unfortunately, the reality is often very different from the brochures, primarily because the GEF is run from the World Bank, and is structurally unable to a. listen to affected people and scientists on the ground in the Third World nor b. challenge the casino capitalist 'logic' of its parent agency.

GEF Funding

Since 1991, the GEF has provided over $4.5 billion in grants and generated $14.5 billion in co-financing from other partners for projects in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This includes grants for more than 1,300 projects in 140 countries. Up to 20% of this funding flows through Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), most of whom are naturally unwilling to raise criticisms of the GEF too loudly, lest GEF employees find more 'co-operative' groups to subsidise.

GEF funds are contributed by donor countries. In 2002, 32 donor countries pledged $3 billion to fund operations through 2006. This is a minuscule proportion of the sums needed to save global nature from rampant capitalism, even if 'projects' managed and funded by 'professionals' from the top down were actually an effective means of conservation in the real world.

Management of GEF Projects

GEF projects are managed by a set of Implementing Agencies (http://www.thegef.org/participants/Implementing_Agencies/implementing_agencies.html), notably:

• United Nations Environment Programme
• United Nations Development Programme
• World Bank

External links

• GEF Web site (http://www.thegef.org) - What is the GEF? (http://www.thegef.org/What_is_the_GEF/what_is_the_gef.html)
• GEF International Waters Resource Centre (http://www.iwlearn.net)
• Independent academic research-based critiques of the GEF (http://www.newgreenorder.info)
• Independent documentary about the GEF (http://www.ifiwatchnet.org/eyes/item.shtml?x=42952)
• MetaMute article: After the Greenrush - Saving Nature for Capital with the Global Environment Facility (http://www.metamute.com/look/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=1&NrIssue=24&NrSection=5&NrArticle=757&ST_)

Recent news

• GEF Council Approves $224 Million in Grants for 19 Projects to Improve the Global Environment (http://www.thegef.org/Outreach/Media/Press_Releases/2003-11WPPressRelease.pdf) (21 November 2003)
• Other GEF Press Releases (http://www.thegef.org/Outreach/Media/Press_Releases/press_releases.html)