India, June 6 -- New York - The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has just approved US$52.3 million for UNDP's support to six projects covering Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, including an initiative with global reach. These funds will unlock a further $292 million in co-financing and private sector engagement, to catalyze impact. The total funding approved for the GEF Trust Fund work programme during its 69th Council Meeting amounts to $195 million in grants and fees to eight GEF Agencies tackling challenges on biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, chemicals and waste and international waters.

Through the 'Global Elimination of Mercury in Non-ferrous Metals Initiative (GEMINI),' UNDP will collaborate with the UN E...