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Chemical and Waste Management Projects Approved at 69th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council Meeting

Meeting of the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) Council approves multiple activities on Chemicals and Waste, driven by UNIDO and international collaborators, with a budget approximately US$45 million, including Global Mercury Elimination in Non-ferrous Metals Initiative.

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UNIDO, in partnership with international allies, is given the green light by the GEF Council...
UNIDO, in partnership with international allies, is given the green light by the GEF Council Meeting to initiate multiple Chemicals and Waste projects, amounting to nearly $45 million in funding. The funds will be dedicated to initiatives such as the Global Mercury Elimination in Non-ferrous Metals Project.

Chemical and Waste Management Projects Approved at 69th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council Meeting

** Washington, DC, June 3rd, 2025 ** - The 69th Council Meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) unveiled a barrage of activities centering on Chemicals and Waste. Delegated to UNIDO and its allies, an array of projects amounting to nearly $45 million gained sanction, such as the Global Elimination of Mercury in Non-ferrous Metals Initiative (GEMINI), a regional project on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, and a national project targeting the Philippines' cement and construction industry.

"By green-lighting the GEMINI mercury-free metals initiative, regional HFC phase-down in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, and the cleaner cement project in the Philippines, the GEF is propelling nations to translate their Minamata, Montreal, and other chemicals-related agreements into tangible actions," said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, GEF CEO and Chairperson. "These investments will oust hazardous substances from supply chains, slash toxic releases threatening human health and ecosystems, and furnish governments with the tools and funding to adhere to their multilateral environmental commitments."

The GEMINI initiative spearheads the production and supply of mercury-free nonferrous metals across Chile, India, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, and Zambia. Encompassing a global component, efforts will focus on disseminating knowledge to encourage the transition to mercury-free safe alternatives and responsible practices, forge transformative partnerships, and promote international collaboration and knowledge exchange. Moreover, attention will be granted to boosting access to finance and ensuring alignment in relevant national policies and regulations. UNIDO governs the programme in conjunction with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), with a total budget of almost $60 million, with UNIDO overseeing a third of the funds.

Evincing additional commitment to HFCs, a group of synthetic gases predominantly used for cooling and refrigeration, a regional initiative aims to bolster action in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. This program's primary purpose remains the strengthening of national governments' capacity to manage HFC phasedowns in line with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. This objective will be accomplished through strategic industrial policy, technological transformation, capacity-building, and awareness-raising measures.

"UNIDO continues to serve as a cornerstone partner for the GEF in tackling the triple planetary crisis (Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Pollution)," said Smail Alhilali, Director of UNIDO's Circular Economy and Green Industry Division. "We're thrilled to have the chance to aid additional target countries in implementing circular solutions for the greening of selected industrial supply chains within the Minerals and Construction sectors, thereby contributing to net-zero, nature-positive, and pollution-free industrial development."

In the Philippines, UNIDO will augment its construction sector portfolio by conjoining forces with the national Department of Trade and Industry to support endeavors geared towards limiting mercury emissions into the environment. Furthermore, efforts will be channeled towards advancing national industrial decarbonization efforts and investigating energy-efficient and circular economy strategies to identify environment-friendly materials for cement production and the recovery of concrete from demolition sites among other measures. Key components will encompass enabling policy frameworks, facilitating technology transfer, and fostering new business models.

Founded by several multilateral funds, the GEF collaborates to address the planet's most salient challenges collectively. Its financing aids developing countries in addressing intricate challenges and working towards meeting international environmental objectives. Over the past three decades, the GEF has supplied more than $26 billion in financing, primarily in the form of grants, and mobilized another $148 billion for priority country-driven projects. As of the GEF-8 Cycle (2022-2026), over $180 million in funding has been sanctioned for UNIDO projects related to Chemicals and Waste.

For more details, please contact:

Smail AlhilaliDirector, Circular Economy and Green Industry DivisionEmail

Carmela CentenoHead, Responsible Materials and Chemicals Management UnitEmail

Note:1. The Global Elimination of Mercury in Non-ferrous Metals Initiative (GEMINI) aims to eliminate mercury pollution in nonferrous metals like copper, industrial gold, zinc, and lead, through policy reform, financial support, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing. The initiative will involve the private sector to adopt best environmental practices and sustainable technologies.2. The approved work program includes $195 million in funding from the GEF, which is expected to leverage $2.6 billion from external sources. This program encompasses 35 countries, with a focus on scaling up efforts to address mercury pollution in various sectors, including cement production and non-ferrous metals. These initiatives aim to advance the mandates of several international environmental accords, including the Minamata Convention on Mercury and its associates.

  1. The GEF's support for the Global Elimination of Mercury in Non-ferrous Metals Initiative (GEMINI) will encourage science-backed transitions to mercury-free safe alternatives in industries such as copper, industrial gold, zinc, and lead, promoting environmental-science best practices among the private sector.
  2. In the realm of renewable-energy, the GEF's regional initiative in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan will facilitate the environmental finance needed for capacity-building and technological transformation in managing HFC phasedowns, aligning with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
  3. Concurrently, the GEF allocates funding for the Philippines' environmental sector, specifically supporting the Department of Trade and Industry in enhancing the construction industry's environmental performance by minimizing mercury emissions, fostering energy-efficient and circular economy strategies, and promoting sustainable materials for cement production.
  4. As a driving force in addressing climate change, biodiversity, and pollution, the GEF's collaboration with partners, including UNIDO, plays a significant role in the industry by supplying crucial financing for developing countries, enabling them to adhere to their multilateral environmental commitments while propelling the transition to a greener, cleaner, and sustainable future.

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