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![Nigerian farmer on a rice cart being pulled by cattle. Photo credit: Resilient Food Systems/Flickr Nigerian farmer on a rice cart being pulled by cattle](/sites/default/files/styles/listing_image_290x218/public/RFS_Flickr_Nigeria_farmer.jpg?h=e7ded9ed&itok=nbs3r9Z7)
Why the GEF is investing in transforming food systems
You may be aware that food plays an important role in human health. Did you know it is also critical to the health of our planet?
Food systems are major drivers of global forest and biodiversity loss, land and soil degradation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Pressure is also…
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![Dense cityscape of Hong Kong highrise buildings. Photo credit: ESB Professional/Shutterstock Dense cityscape of Hong Kong highrise buildings](/sites/default/files/styles/listing_image_290x218/public/shutterstock_245037463_hong_kong_cityscape.jpg?h=e85f6c07&itok=of4rkyxU)
How COVID-19 can steer city leadership on sustainability
Cities are at the heart of the pandemic impact and response, and city leaders managing through the COVID-19 crisis have demonstrated commitment to integration, innovation, and partnership. GEF Cities Lead Aloke Barnwal makes the case that this approach will be critical to the future sustainability…
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![Young Kyrgyz farmer picking corn. Photo credit: FAO Young Kyrgyz farmer picking corn](/sites/default/files/styles/listing_image_290x218/public/WFD2020_Kyrgyzstan_corn.jpg?h=e85f6c07&itok=oE3TtXVI)
Working together to grow, nourish, and sustain
On October 16 every year, we celebrate World Food Day to highlight the enduring vision of a world free from hunger and malnutrition. This year, we face the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19, which threatens food security and human health and may push another 130 million people into hunger by the end…
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![Farmer tilling land in Angola. Photo credit: Andre Silva Pinto Farmer tilling land in Angola](/sites/default/files/styles/listing_image_290x218/public/shutterstock_1066474085_angola_farmer.jpg?h=e85f6c07&itok=yr5ejN3B)
Repairing our broken food system
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the warning bells about our broken food system. As farmers and consumers grapple with disruptions in the global food supply chain, we are witnessing an exacerbation of threats to the natural environment. Since start of the pandemic, increases in deforestation…
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What to expect from Super Year 2020: environmental leaders look ahead
Watch interviews with the GEF’s government partners, agency representatives, civil society leaders, and in-house specialists on climate change, cities, oceans, biodiversity, illegal wildlife trade, and more, recorded on the sidelines of the 57th GEF Council meetings in December 2019:
Naoko Ishii,…
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![To complement the FAO’s World Food Day 2019 campaign action list, we put together a list of articles from the GEF’s partners that might help answer the question: how do we feed the world and keep our planet healthy? Photo: Anton Jankovoy/Shutterstock. A man surrounded by vegetables and greens at his place at Indian Bazaar. A mix of colors and textures. Captured in India, Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi.](/sites/default/files/styles/listing_image_290x218/public/shutterstock_comms_blog_food_day.jpg?h=e85f6c07&itok=zoehmC66)
How to feed the world and nurture the planet: ideas from GEF partners
Transforming food systems and pursuing healthier diets are key to achieving food security and reducing environmental degradation
Achieving Zero Hunger is not only about feeding people, but also ensuring proper nutrition and nurturing the planet. This year, World Food Day calls for action…
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![As part of our mission to protect globally important biodiversity, the GEF supports protection of endangered species around the world by securing their habitats and combating the illegal wildlife trade. Photo: Sretachok.P Oat/Shutterstock. As part of our mission to protect globally important biodiversity, the GEF supports protection of endangered species around the world by securing their habitats and combating the illegal wildlife trade. Photo: Sretachok.P Oat/Shutterstock.](/sites/default/files/styles/listing_image_290x218/public/EarthDay2019_collage.png?h=e85f6c07&itok=S6C1BEUZ)
Save our species: an Earth Day "Did you know?"
April 22 is Earth Day and the theme this year is protecting endangered species. Beyond the beauty of the coral reefs, the majesty of whales, and the lovability of baby sea turtles, these species maintain ecosystems that are vital to our way of life. Nothing in the world exists on its own.
As part…
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![Congo Basin rainforest is a shared global asset that is critical to the planet’s health. And, like the increasingly rare great apes that inhabit it, this asset is in desperate need of protection. Photo: Sergey Uryadnikov/Shutterstock. Congo Basin rainforest is a shared global asset that is critical to the planet’s health. And, like the increasingly rare great apes that inhabit it, this asset is in desperate need of protection. Photo: Sergey Uryadnikov/Shutterstock.](/sites/default/files/styles/listing_image_290x218/public/lowland_gorilla_congo_shutterstock.jpg?h=e85f6c07&itok=1YHEweaK)
The Congo Basin is critical to the health of our planet
Lowland and swamp forests, forest savannas, and the mighty Congo river make up the 500 million acres of the Congo Basin, the second largest tropical rainforest on the planet. When standing below the trees, the vaulted canopy of leaves blocks out most of the sunlight and traps moisture making a trek…
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![The Impact Programs on Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration; Sustainable Cities; and Sustainable Forest Management collectively address key drivers of environmental degradation and offer the potential for the GEF to contribute to systemic change. Photo: Oliver S./Shutterstock. The Impact Programs on Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration; Sustainable Cities; and Sustainable Forest Management collectively address key drivers of environmental degradation and offer the potential for the GEF to contribute to systemic change. Photo: Oliver S./Shutterstock.](/sites/default/files/styles/listing_image_290x218/public/GF_blogIPs_newsimage.jpg?h=e85f6c07&itok=WbpBMLnT)
Supporting innovation for transformation: GEF’s new Impact Programs to tackle the drivers of environmental degradation in an integrated way
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) faces a demanding yet seemingly attainable task: to help countries foster a transformation in how individuals, communities, and businesses use and protect the natural word. But nothing less will suffice if we are to meet pressing environmental…
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![To keep the planet and people healthy, we need food systems designed to protect natural resources, absorb greenhouse gas emissions, provide nutritious and affordable food, and strengthen the resilience and prosperity of rural populations. zerohunger_blog.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/listing_image_290x218/public/zerohunger_blog.jpg?h=35021335&itok=qB1Qg2Bz)
Zero Hunger world is within reach, but we must work together to achieve it
Today, on World Food Day, the global community is mobilizing to reach a Zero Hunger world. With a changing climate, inequality, and rapid population growth the challenges we face on the way seem insurmountable. However, with governments, private sector and individuals working together, we can…