Diego Mesa Puyo takes office as CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility

Diego Mesa Puyo, a Colombian-Canadian economist and sustainable development expert, officially began his tenure as CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on October 1, 2026. He will lead the world's largest public funder for the environment for a four-year term. Mr. Mesa Puyo's term coincides with GEF-9, the facility's ninth funding cycle, which runs from 2026 to 2030. Initial contribution pledges for GEF-9 have surpassed $4.3 billion, earmarked for global environmental protection and restoration. Notably, the UK government announced a new pledge of £330 million last week. "We have a global responsibility to protect nature and the environment while driving sustainable economic growth. Achieving the 2030 targets requires combining development and environmental action," Mr. Mesa Puyo stated. "GEF's unique position in the global financial architecture enables us to convene governments, investors, and communities to generate lasting global environmental benefits." Previously, Mr. Mesa Puyo served as Deputy Division Chief in the Climate Policy Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Before that, he was Colombia's Minister of Energy and Mines from 2018 to 2022, where he spearheaded one of Latin America's most ambitious energy transition programs and secured over $3 billion in private investment. The GEF-9 cycle will focus on accelerating the delivery of environmental commitments by 2030. Key priorities include scaling up integrated solutions, promoting blended finance, advancing "whole-of-government" and "whole-of-society" approaches, and enhancing institutional effectiveness. The funding period will also bolster support for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, alongside intensifying collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and local communities.