Harvesting solutions: forging new paths in climate finance

Global environmental crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, are threatening livelihoods and agrifood systems. With resources limited and the need for action more urgent than ever, a fundamental and sustainable transformation of our agrifood systems is required to build a resilient and sustainable future.

To address this challenge head-on, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) brought together government officials and experts for a pivotal Regional Planning Meeting on Climate and Environmental Finance. Held in Ankara from 2-4 September, the meeting focused on strategically mobilizing resources from key global funds, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), to support this crucial transformation.

In his opening remarks, Viorel Gutu, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, underscored the timeliness of the meeting. "We are gathering at a critical time," he stated. "Countries across Europe and Central Asia face increasing climate and environmental pressures, where resources remain limited."

He emphasized that agrifood systems, while significantly affected by environmental crises, also hold the key solutions. "FAO is working with our member countries to achieve agrifood systems transformation that delivers interconnected benefits across the economy, environment, society and human health," Gutu added. He highlighted the workshop's spirit of cooperation, echoing the FAO80 theme, “Hand in hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”.

A central objective of the meeting was to strengthen the technical knowledge and collaboration of participants. Discussions focused on the strategic utilization of environmental and climate finance, with a view toward aligning financial opportunities with each country's national priorities and commitments for tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation and environmental challenges.

Key outputs from the workshop included the exploration of new programming opportunities under the expected GEF-9 Integrated Programs and under the GCF. It also provided an opportunity for the countries to explore common themes for developing multi-country projects that will enable them to benefit from each other’s experiences and join efforts to build capacities in addressing pressing environmental issues that they are facing. 

The meeting took place at a pivotal moment. The GEF is preparing its ninth replenishment cycle (GEF-9), expected to be approved in 2026, which will guide global funding priorities for biodiversity conservation, land restoration, climate change mitigation, pollution reduction and sustainable food systems. At the same time, the GCF is currently in its second programming period (GCF-2) for 2024–2027, with updated strategies and modalities to better support developing countries in advancing low-carbon, climate-resilient development.

Catalysing change across Europe and Central Asia

FAO has already mobilized more than USD 166 million through 53 GEF projects in the Europe and Central Asia region, alongside USD 152 million in GCF-supported initiatives, including climate-resilient agriculture, biodiversity protection, and sustainable land management.

While available funding is not sufficient to meet the scale of the challenges, it can catalyse the wider transformation of our agrifood systems. 

The three-day event concluded with a renewed sense of purpose, a stronger technical understanding, clearer strategies and concrete project ideas to put forward under GEF-9 and GCF-2 and other resource partners.