Report Urges GEF to Continue Investment in Transport to Cut CO2 Emissions
David Akana
African Development bank (AfDB)
Senior KM and Communication Specialist
Blog Date:
New York-based nonprofit, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) has urged the Global Environment Facility to maintain investment in the transportation sector at the current rate as a means of cutting down on emissions of greenhouse gases. In a report: Maximizing the Effectiveness of the Global Environment Facility Sustainable Transport Portfolio published several weeks ago, ITDP states that ?rapid economic growth and urbanization in developing nations spurs global demand for transport, a critical component of all economies. 
GEF can play a key role financing transformational initiatives that support improved mobility and access while curbing emissions.?
The report further examines selected GEF projects and offers recommendations for more effective GEF action in the transport sector. The paper addresses the proposed restructuring of GEF6 and its Implications for future transport funding.
While commending the GEF?s transport portfolio for leveraging more money per dollar invested than any other within the climate change focal area (for every dollar invested, 12 dollars were leveraged), the report however highlights the fact that ?the biggest impediments to successful GEF transportation project implementation are unclear or unrealistic project designs and difficulty in adjusting project design to a dynamic political environment following project approval.?
The report was developed before the GEF Council meeting which held in Washington in early November and the latest GEF Replenishment round which ended in Paris a few days ago.