Following another successful bid win lead by Destination Vancouver, Vancouver is excited to welcome the Seventh Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly and Associated Meetings to the Vancouver Convention Centre this summer! Co-hosted by the GEF and the Government of Canada, the conference will bring together ministers, prominent environmentalists, government officials, business leaders, leaders of GEF agencies, civil society representatives, and Indigenous Peoples to help tackle global environmental challenges.
Destination Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre worked in close collaboration with influential leaders from the federal government to welcome the Seventh GEF Assembly. This marks a huge win for the city, planned to generate a minimum of $4 million in economic impact. From August 22-26, 2023, over 1,000 attendees from around the world will connect in Vancouver through high-level roundtables, forums, and off-site environmental learning opportunities.
About the GEF and The Assembly
The Global Environment Facility advances international cooperation to confront pressing environmental issues. Through the GEF, 185 member governments work with sustainability leaders, Indigenous Peoples, the private sector, and other environmental financiers to address biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health. Since its establishment, the GEF has enabled environmental action by providing over $22 billion in grants and blended finance and has mobilized co-financing for over 5,000 projects.
Representatives from all 185 GEF member countries form the GEF Assembly. As the governing body of GEF, the Assembly reviews and evaluates the GEF’s general policies, operations, and membership, in addition to approving recommendations from the council.
Sustainability in Vancouver
As the birthplace of Greenpeace and home to the burgeoning cleantech sector, Vancouver continues to act as a hub for environmental leadership, collaboration, and innovation. With the smallest per capita carbon footprint in North America, Vancouver strives to build a sustainable and resilient industry, with commitments to the stewardship and renewal of the natural environment. The city continues its advancements towards a greener future, with green economy firms working towards advancing green buildings, clean transportation, and renewable and low carbon fuels through cleantech.
The Vancouver Convention Centre will function as the core meeting venue for delegates. The award-winning facility is a leader in sustainability and is the world’s first double LEED® Platinum certified convention centre. LEED® is an environmental standard used to rate healthy, efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. The Vancouver Convention Centre’s Platinum designation was achieved in part through its waste management, energy efficiency, indoor water use reduction, and facility maintenance: the centre boasts a six-acre living roof, a seawater heating and cooling system, and an integrated restored marine habitat.
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Destination Vancouver looks forward to welcoming international delegates from the GEF Assembly to Vancouver this August.
Want to learn more about how GEF is facilitating collaboration for environmental action? Keep up to date with GEF through their newsroom: https://www.thegef.org/newsroom
