LOC11:05
08:05 GMT
BERNE, June 29 (KUNA) -- The Swiss Federal Council decided in its weekly meeting to support the international environmental and climate policy by USD 230 million according to the UN Climate Summit 2009 resolution. According to a press release from the Swiss federal Council "the state of the environment has deteriorated in the last few years. Human activities lead to climate change, the increase of extinction and the disappearance of the natural habitats. The effects were already apparent "in 1998 for the first time more are registered refugees from environmental disasters than war refugees." "Despite the economic crisis, the international community has also decided to strengthen the overall environment and to increase funding for the Global Environment Fund by 50 percent.", added the press release.
The UN climate conference in Copenhagen had determined the total amount of funds needed for financing climate measures in developing countries in the period 2010-2012 (Climate seed money) to 30 billion USD. Founded in 1991, Global Environment Fund GEF is the main multilateral financing instrument in the environmental field and is used to finance environmental projects in developing and transition countries. About a third of the GEF funding is intended for the climate. The GEF consists of 181 Member States and is replenished every four years. Since 1991, could be funded with a total of 8.7 billion US dollars in 2389 projects in 140 developing and transition countries in the priority areas of climate, biodiversity, international waters, desertification and chemicals. As an example of the benefits of the GEF to projects in the areas of climate and biodiversity are 27 projects completed in the climate could range up to now an estimated 224 million tons of CO2-emissions are prevented. GEF projects have led to a marked slowing of species loss. The GEF is the world's largest supporter of protected areas. Total Protection 1600 with a total size of 360 million hectares could be financed with GEF funds. Switzerland is represented in the GEF Board of a voting group of members at her side Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.(end) ta.asa KUNA 291105 Jun 10NNNN