World Environment Day 2026: FFEM and its partners take action to address the three-pronged environmental crisis

Event

Published on June 5, 2026

Congo vue aérienne Pot@Maï_Hydrolienne USE Mbamou © Limaya Studio

To mark World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5, we shine a spotlight on local solutions supported by the FFEM and its partners to address the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Here is an overview of initiatives that illustrate this grassroots effort.

Territories that are more resilient to climate change

In the face of increasingly severe droughts, floods, and pressure on natural resources, the FFEM supports initiatives that build community resilience while contributing to the energy transition.

The Pot@mai and NANOE projects are thus developing rural electrification solutions based on renewable energy, improving access to energy in sometimes isolated areas while limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Maguelonne Chevallier Loubelo, Executive Director of Pot@mai:

The partnership with FFEM is crucial for us because it supports us at a pivotal moment in the rollout of the USE solution powered by renewable energy. The Mbamou Island prototype has enabled us to validate the concept, build the team, and strengthen our capabilities to ensure the long-term success of the rollout.

Ms. Maguelonne Chevallier Loubelo, Executive Director of Pot@maï

Maguelonne Loubeleo _ Pot@maï - Maguelonne Loubelo_Pot@maï

In Porto-Novo (Benin) and Maroua (Cameroon), the FFEM supports sustainable urban transition initiatives with the aim of making cities more inclusive and better prepared for the impacts of climate change. These experiences recently informed a knowledge-sharing initiative conducted with MobiliseYourCity, leading to the publication of a booklet of recommendations based on lessons learned from projects implemented in six African cities. Intended for local governments and urban development stakeholders, this document helps disseminate proven solutions to strengthen cities’ resilience to climate challenges.

Because ecological transitions are also built with future generations in mind, the ARRICE project, carried out in partnership with ADEME for the Office for Climate Education, contributes to strengthening climate education and young people’s capacity for action in Africa.

Protecting the oceans, coastlines, and biodiversity

The oceans and coastal ecosystems play a vital role in regulating the climate, preserving biodiversity, and protecting communities from extreme weather events.

In Tunisia, the PENELOPE project contributes to the preservation of Posidonia seagrass beds, marine ecosystems that are essential to Mediterranean biodiversity and blue carbon storage.

As Véronique Andrieux, Chief Executive Officer of WWF France, points out:

Through the PENELOPE project, WWF France and its partners on both sides of the Mediterranean are demonstrating that it is possible to combine scientific excellence, technological innovation, and the commitment of local stakeholders to ensure the long-term protection of Posidonia. We are deeply grateful for the support of the FFEM, the AFD, the OFB and the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. Their commitment demonstrates just how essential partnerships between public funding, private philanthropy, and scientific expertise are for developing innovative, ecologically and economically sustainable solutions for biodiversity.

Ms. Véronique Andrieux, Chief Executive Officer of WWF France

In West Africa, several initiatives supported by the FFEM are also contributing to the restoration of mangroves and the development of nature-based solutions to combat coastal erosion and the risk of coastal flooding.

Supporting the agroecological transition and reducing pollution

Transforming agricultural systems is a key strategy for simultaneously addressing climate, health, and environmental challenges.

IRD is working alongside FFEM through several initiatives promoting agroecological transition. In West Africa, the DAETOX project is developing a “One Health” approach aimed at better understanding and reducing the impacts of pesticides on human, animal, and environmental health. In the Andes, the ONE2ZERO project is supporting the shift toward agricultural models less dependent on chemical inputs.

A long-standing partner of the FFEM, AVSF is also active in several regions to promote sustainable agricultural and pastoral practices. In Senegal, the THIELLAL 2 project supports producers in adopting more resilient production systems. In Mongolia, Nomads for Life supports pastoralist communities facing the combined effects of climate change and pasture degradation.

According to Frédéric Apollin, Deputy CEO of AVSF:

The degradation of pastures caused by the sharp increase in livestock numbers and climate change is not inevitable. For more than twenty years, we have been supporting livestock farmers in addressing these challenges. With this new support from the FFEM, we will enable local stakeholders to work together to define a shared vision for the sustainability of their regions and to put it into practice.

Mr. Frédéric Apollin, Deputy CEO of AVSF

Mongolie-Elevage — Livestock Farming in Mongolia - AVSF

Local solutions to global challenges

Through the projects it supports, the FFEM demonstrates that ecological transitions first take shape on the ground. Led by local governments, associations, researchers, entrepreneurs, and local communities, these initiatives provide concrete solutions to global challenges while generating co-benefits for the climate, biodiversity, and people.

As 2026 approaches, marked by several major international events, the experience gained through FFEM-supported projects underscores a fundamental reality: solutions already exist. The challenge now is to strengthen them, promote their dissemination, and foster collaborations that will accelerate the ecological transition on a larger scale.

Some key figures on the FFEM’s action

24% supported projects for the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity
14% projects supported for the resilience of aquatic ecosystems
37% supported projects for the sustainable management of agricultural and forestry territories
20% supported projects for adaptation and the low-carbon transition of cities & territories