Nearly 30 years of solutions

First Earth Summit at Rio.
Signing of the three agreements on biological diversity, climate change and the fight against desertification.

Establishment of the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM).

The FFEM is one of the first bilateral funding partners working in the Mediterranean basin to conserve the biodiversity of coastal and marine environments.

It finances renewable energy-based rural electrification projects in remote areas.

The FFEM commits to promoting energy efficiency in buildings.

The first sustainable agriculture projects to combat desertification are financed in Saharan and Sahelian countries.

The FFEM supports the integrated management of watersheds and coastal areas.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants comes into force.

The FFEM supports its first projects for the elimination of pollutants and promotion of alternatives to their use.

The FFEM launches the first Small- Scale Initiatives Programme which relies on civil society organisations for biodiversity conservation.

The Kyoto Protocol comes into force.

The FFEM places greater emphasis on projects that combat climate change. In particular, the Fund supports its first climate change adaptation projects.

The FFEM adds protection of the high seas to its strategy.

The FFEM sets up the Private Sector Innovation Facility in the area of climate change (FISP-Climat).

Paris Climate Agreement.

Adoption of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The FFEM pursues its integrated approach to environmental conservation and development.

30% increase in the resources allocated to the FF EM by the French government to finance projects over the period 2019-2022.

The FF EM makes the circular economy, rational waste management and the fight against pollution a key direction for its strategy.

International momentum for biodiversity and climate: IUCN World Conservation Congress, Biodiversity CoP, Climate CoP.

• Adoption of the new global framework for biodiversity

• FFEM replenished to €132m

• Launch of the FFEM’s 2023-2026 strategy and publication of 5 thematic brochures.
• June: Publication of the FFEM’s new capitalizations on sustainable forest management in Central Africa and integrating nature into cities in Latin America.
• August: Creation of a new fund to protect biodiversity by the GEF.
• September: Historical signature of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
• October: Publication of FFEM’s new activity report.
• December: Unanimous signature of an agreement to transition away from fossil fuels at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
   

• February: Launch of the “One Health” call for project proposals on combating sources of pollution impacting simultaneously the health of ecosystems, wildlife, and local populations.
• March: First “Buildings and Climate” global forum, co-organised by France and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
• May: Publication of the Note on “FFEM principles for supporting project initiators using “carbon finance”.
• Ratification of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ).
• October: COP16 the first meeting since the Kunming-Montreal Agreement of 2022 with its ambitious targets for protecting biodiversity.