Fifteen countries from across the Global South have united in the fight for a cleaner environment, with the approval of the largest global investment in tackling plastic pollution to date.

With funding from the Global Environment Facility, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, India, Jordan, Laos, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, and Senegal will collaborate to transition towards a circular economy for plastics under the $107 million program targeting single-use plastic packaging in the food and beverage industry.

The Global Environment Facility extends deep condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Mohamed T. El-Ashry following his passing. Mohamed served as the first Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the GEF, from 1994 to 2003. He also led the GEF during its pilot phase, from 1991 to 1994. His vision and committed leadership were instrumental to the long-term success of the multilateral fund, which has grown over the past three decades into the largest financier of environmental action worldwide.