Nigeria has been selected among 11 countries to benefit from the new Net-Zero Nature-Positive Accelerator Integrated Programme, a global initiative that aligns climate and biodiversity goals through innovation, capacity building and shared knowledge.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched the $800 million programme in partnership with the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Other beneficiaries include Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Indonesia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
With $100 million in GEF funding and $700 million in co-financing, the initiative seeks to transform economies by integrating nature and climate goals, driving investment, and spurring coordinated action across governments, businesses and communities.
The programme’s launch, held during the 2025 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, marks a pivotal step towards uniting global sustainability efforts. It aims to deepen collaboration under the upcoming GEF-9 cycle, expanding participation and impact.
Country implementation will be supported by UNDP, UNIDO and the FAO, ensuring tailored national strategies that advance low-carbon and biodiversity-positive growth.
Dr Sam Mugume, Co-Chair of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, hailed the programme as “timely and transformative”, saying it would “mobilise finance, build capacity, and embed nature-based solutions into national plans”.
Finance ministers from Nigeria, Indonesia, Mexico and Chile reaffirmed their commitment to integrate biodiversity into economic policy.
GEF Chairperson Carlos Rodríguez described the initiative as a milestone in aligning finance with environmental goals, while UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen stressed that “climate change and biodiversity loss are deeply interconnected and must be tackled together”.
“This programme helps nations accelerate climate and nature action, build resilience, and create green jobs,” Andersen said. “Now is the time to act together for a net-zero, nature-positive future.”
