News Sustainable Development Goals

Funding partner spotlight

Credit: Todd Brown/UNEP

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the world’s leading authority on the environment, working with all of society across 193 countries to protect and restore human and planetary health. But action at scale depends on funding, and UNEP relies on voluntary contributions for more than 95 per cent of its work. This includes contributions to UNEP’s core fund, the Environment Fund; to the three UNEP Planetary Funds for climate, nature and pollution; and earmarked contributions that provide direct support to specific projects. 

Flexible and sustained funding ensures UNEP can keep advancing critical priorities, and every contribution helps accelerate progress toward a cleaner, safer and more sustainable future for all. See how to partner with UNEP to invest in people and planet, and read below for regular funding updates.

Related: Status of contributions

04 Jun 2025 11:33

Republic of Korea hosts World Environment Day 2025

eju Province in the Republic of Korea was chosen as the host location for World Environment Day
Credit: Artan Jama / UNEP

 

UNEP extends its gratitude to the Republic of Korea, a valued funding partner of UNEP, for this year furthering its support by hosting World Environment Day 2025. This marks the second time the country serves as host for the global observance, which takes place annually on 5 June and stands as the world’s largest platform for environmental awareness and action.

As host country, the Republic of Korea has provided funding for the global campaign and key activities, which this year centre on the theme #BeatPlasticPollution. It has also designated Jeju Special Self-Governing Province – committed to ending plastic pollution by 2040 – as the venue for World Environment Day celebrations. Events include forums, keynote addresses, interactive dialogues, and engagements featuring the three World Environment Day 2025 Supporters.

Learn more about World Environment Day, take part in the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign, and watch live updates from Jeju and across the world.

29 May 2025 16:39

UNCDF, UNEP and CAFI partner to launch new $15 million Congo Basin initiative

Forest Near Kinshasa
Credit: David Tansey / Wikimedia Commons

 

One of the world's largest carbon sinks, the Congo Basin rainforest is home to over 75 million people who depend on the ecosystem for their livelihoods. A new initiative called ProCongo aims to foster local entrepreneurship for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo whose business models support the health of the rainforest.

To unlock the potential of blended finance, the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) are partnering to make an initial investment of $15 million in ProCongo, helping to catalyse the target amount of $30 million in contributions from both public and private sectors.

The initiative is further supported by a coalition of CAFI donors – including Germany, Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, the European Union, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom – alongside the six Central African partner countries in the Congo Basin. 

Read more here.

15 May 2025 15:58

Thank you to the Netherlands for being a top funding partner of UNEP

09 May 2025 13:27

UNEP–Nordic consultations work to advance global environmental governance

Courtesy of the Danish Government

 

Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) are key contributors to UNEP's Environment Fund, and their strong partnership with UNEP highlights their shared commitment to addressing the triple planetary crisis - climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

This week’s annual consultations, hosted by Denmark, reaffirmed Nordic support for critical areas, including multilateral environmental governance, transition to circular economy, and UNEP’s strategic planning. Discussions focused on tackling plastic pollution, enhancing pollution governance, and ensuring impactful outcomes at the 7th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), scheduled to take place in December 2025.

The Nordic countries' leadership in promoting sustainable consumption, combating pollution, and advancing climate action remains vital, particularly through their financial contributions and advocacy for science-based policies.

08 May 2025 16:34

Thank you to France for being a top funding partner of UNEP

08 May 2025 14:21

Supplementary grant from Japan goes toward environmental stewardship, focused on Ukraine

Delegation at the Japan Supplementary Budget 2024/2025 kick-off meeting in Nairobi
Credit: Ahmed Nayim Yussuf / UNEP

 

Japan, which is among UNEP's 15 leading funding partners, recently announced a supplementary grant of US$4 million in addition to its full-share contributions to UNEP's core fund, the Environment Fund. This supplementary grant  includes funding for the new “Enhancing capacity of hazardous waste management” initiative in Ukraine, which focuses on minimizing environmental and public health risks of war debris containing asbestos. 

The supplementary funding also aims to help drive envrionmental stewardship and sustainable development worldwide and will support UNEP’s efforts on tackling the pollution crisis, in cooperation with Fiji, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan and Thailand.  

Read more here, or contact Pier Carlo Sandei, piercarlo.sandei@un.org, for more information.

06 May 2025 15:30

Restoration Factory programme on track to meet 2025 goals

A man in a beekeeping suit walks in a field
Credit: AFP / Tony Karumba 

 

With generous support from Belgium, Finland, and Norway to the UNEP Climate Fund, the Restoration Factory programme is on track to have trained more than 200 green entrepreneurs by the end of 2025, boosting nature-positive businesses that help restore the planet. 

The Restoration Factory is an incubation programme that helps entrepreneurs develop climate-resilient businesses that support local communities and help restore and preserve landscapes.