One of the few highlights at the Copenhagen climate conference in 2009 was the announcement of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). As a multilateral fund it is a central pillar of the international climate finance architecture and is essential to the implement of the Paris Agreement. It is expected to channel a large share of international climate finance and in particular the $100 billion promise.
Objectives
The fund is supposed to disburse an equal share of its funding for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Within the adaptation window half of the funds shall go to those countries which are the poorest and most affected by climate change. The fund should be used strategically to not only fund isolated projects, but that these projects should also have a positive impact on whole sectors (e.g. the energy sector). The fund is headed by a Board of 24 members, half of which are coming from industrialized and developing countries, respectively. In 2025, Botswana and Sweden are Co-Chairs of the GCF Board.
Key developments
The GCF has made major progress toward its operationalization since early 2014. A number of key regulations, procedures and eligibility criteria in its comprehensive set of rules have been established at its regular board meetings. The initial resource mobilization of just over $10 billion for the fund by donor countries in late 2014 and the approval of the first projects in late 2015 were major milestones. Since then, the board decided on comprehensive support programmes to enhance implementation. This includes Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, the terms for four fund-wide pilot programs (for enhanced direct access, the promotion of local SMEs, the development of new sources of finance and REDD+ results-based payments). It also established various policies and guidelines, which include the guidelines for a simplified process for activities with a modest financial budget (Simplified Approval Process, SAP), guidelines for the protection of the interests of indigenous people, a gender policy, guidelines for Environmental and Social Standards as well as several ethical guidelines (e.g. against fraud and avoiding the funding of terrorism as well as sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harrassment). It also established an Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM) where population groups (potentially) negatively affected by GCF-funded projects as well as implementation entities whose project proposals have been denied can file a complaint. The GCF Board also updated its Strategic Plan which is currently outlining programming directions and operational and institutional priorities for the period 2024-2027.
As of July 2025, the GCF has accredited a total of 153 implementing entities of which 131 hav signed all legal arrangements and can submit project proposals. Another 147 institutions are still in the accreditation process. These include not only traditional actors such as multilateral development banks and UN institutions, but also Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and private entities such as Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Crédit Agricole. So far, 314 projects have been approved with a total volume of $18 billion of which $5.8 billion have been disbursed. Of the approved projects 258 projects have started with their implementation.
Funding volume and Germany’s contribution
The GCF is funded through voluntary commitments, mainly from industrialized countries, but also from developing countries. In late 2014 the GCF finalized its initial resource mobilization of originally just over $10 billion for the fund by donor countries successfully. Due to the withdrawal of committed US-contribution by the Trump Administration this sum was reduced to just over $8 billion. The first replenishment (2020-2023) in 2019 brought around $9.5 billion of new money for the GCF for the period until the end of 2023. In summer 2022, the GCF launched the second replenishment round for 2024-2027, which ended with an official replenishment conference at the end of 2023. In total, 34 countries made pledges amounting to 18 billion US dollars, further increasing the funds available for the GCF.
For the initial resource mobilization Germany pledged €750 million to the fund in 2014, making it the fifth-largest donor in absolute terms after Japan, the UK, France and the US. For the first replenishment Germany together with Norway was among the first countries to announce their new pledges in December 2018. It commited to €1.5 billion for 2020-2023 which represented a doubling of its contribution to the GCF. In the second replenishment round (2024-2027), Germany increased its contribution to €2 billion. This makes it the largest donor to the GCF before the UK and France. (as of July 2025)
Further information on the Green Climate Fund:
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