With reference to ‘Global Environment Facility’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It serves as financial mechanism for ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ and ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’
2. It undertakes scientific research on environmental issues at global level
3. It is an agency under OECD to facilitate the transfer of technology and funds to underdeveloped countries with specific aim to protect their environment.
4. Both (a) and (b)

Explanation

Statement (a) is correct

• GEF was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit as an independently operating financial organisation. The GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, REDD+ (Sustainable Forest Management), climate change, land degradation, ozone layer, persistent organic pollutants, etc.
• The GEF Serves as Financial Mechanism for the Following Conventions:
  • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
  • United Nations Framework Convention on CC (UNFCCC)
  • UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
  • Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
  • Minamata Convention on Mercury
• The GEF, although not linked formally to the Montreal Protocol, supports the implementation of the Protocol in countries with economies in transition.
• GEF is an independent financial organisation (not a research body). It may fund scientific research but is not directly involved in it.

Answer: (a) It serves as financial mechanism for ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ and ‘United Nations Frame-work Convention on Climate Change’; Difficulty Level: Hard