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ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

By Asian Development Bank

April 26^th, 2023

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) relationship with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has been the longest-running financial partnership within ADB.

ADB-GEF projects in oceans, nature-based solutions, electric mobility, and climate resilience have contributed to ADB’s expanding ambition on climate change and nature-positive investments.

Addressing Food Insecurity in the Coral Triangle (2010-2019)

Destructive fishing and overfishing, pollution, and impacts of climate change pose serious threats to coral reefs. Nearly 60% of coral reefs and mangroves are predicted to disappear by 2050 if unsustainable practices are not addressed.

A fisherman’s son helps his father hang seaweed for their livelihood in Taytay, Palawan (2017, Noel Guevara).

The Coral Triangle Initiative supported capacity building for coastal communities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste (CT6) to better manage their coral reef ecosystems to sustain local fisheries and conserve marine resources.

Marine life in the Philippines (2021, Brian Manuel).

A fisherman casts his net in Malaysia (2017, Lim Sheng Haw).

The CT6 focused on food security by recognizing the critical need to safeguard and manage sustainably the region’s marine and coastal resources, taking into consideration climate change impacts. The Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security was comprised of $53 million, with GEF co-financing of $25 million.

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB recognizes that investments in ocean health and blue economies are critical for strengthening resilience, improve food security, protect cultural heritage, and catalyze economic transformation in Asia and the Pacific.

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

In 2019, ADB launched the Healthy Oceans Action Plan, which aims to protect and restore coastal and marine ecosystems, promote inclusive livelihood opportunities, grow sustainable blue economies, build resilient coastal communities, and contribute to food security in Asia and the Pacific through its flagship programs Coastal Resilience, Plastic Free Oceans, Sustainable Seafood and Ocean Finance.

Piloting Sponge City to reduce Flood Risk (2005-2013)

Climate change and rapid urbanization put coastal cities at increasing risk of costly flooding. A study indicates that average global losses will increase to $52 billion per year in 2050.

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

The Sponge City program in the People’s Republic of China (Sanjiang Plain Wetlands Protection) supports water-related nature-based solutions and green infrastructure. ADB made an investment of $15 million with GEF co-financing of $12.5 million. Intelligently planned and protected urban green spaces with green infrastructure such as ponds, walls, floodplains, wetlands, and permeable roads help to absorb and reuse rainwater to reduce flood risk and manage water sustainably.

This demonstrates the value of nature-based solutions, which ADB promotes in its approach to flood control through the integration of green and grey infrastructure to build resilience.

Zhenbaodao Nature Reserve

Anbanghe Nature Reserve

Investing in the Transformation to Electric Mobility (2019-2025)

The increasing number of motor vehicles in the region doesn't only create traffic congestion, it also substantially contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. By 2050, two out of three cars will be found in developing countries. Achieving global climate targets will require a shift to zero-emissions mobility in all countries, including low- and middle-income ones.

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

India has sought to de-carbonize transport systems by catalyzing finance for large-scale adoption of electric vehicles across all modes of transportation. E-Mobility in India secured $3.5 million in GEF co-financing to support this transformative shift.

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB’s sustainable transport program is providing e-mobility options to all member countries to achieve zero emission targets.

Ladakh Car Port in India.

Achieving climate resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (2021-2026)

The Pacific Small Island Developing States (Pacific SIDS) are scattered across the Pacific Ocean and are home to approximately eight million people. There is a high prevalence of diseases related to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene.

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

Water supply for a large proportion of the Pacific SIDS is often highly dependent on rainwater harvesting, surface water sources, or groundwater. Only a small percentage of the population has access to sanitation. Most urban areas have access to centralized systems, which are regularly threatened by rain flooding, and sea storm surges.

Women washing clothes by the river in Papua New Guinea (2018, Gerhard Joren) .

To address the challenges faced by SIDS urban areas, ADB and GEF will help climate-proof water supply, drainage, and sanitation infrastructures, reduce vulnerability, and increase resilience through innovation and technology transfer for climate change adaptation. GEF co-financing of $16 million is enabling $145 million of investment in Climate Resilient Urban Development in the Pacific.

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

ADB and the Global Environment Facility: Better Impact Through Co-finance for Climate and Nature

Blending ADB and GEF resources provides substantial opportunities for enhancing local and global environmental benefits by innovating, scaling up investments, and mainstreaming environmentally sustainable approaches, policy reforms, and capacity development.

A vegetable farm in the Philippines (2022, Doods Tanabe).

A father and daughter retrieve crab traps in the mangroves in the Philippines (2017, Biggs Javellana).

Forest patrollers in Viet Nam (2013, Lester Ledesma).

Footnotes

Cover Photo - A diver inspects the coral domes at Talakanen Island in Taytay, Palawan (2017, Noel Guevara).

FootNotes

Cover Photo - A diver inspects the coral domes at Talakanen Island in Taytay, Palawan (2017, Noel Guevara).

© 2026 Asian Development Bank

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