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Washington, DC, 21 September 2026 — The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) will convene a high-level discussion at the Science Summit 2026 to explore how scientific evidence can better inform environmental investment and accelerate solutions that deliver lasting global environmental benefits.
At the GEF Council Meetings in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) played a central role in grounding deliberations in the latest science and evidence.
Dr Edward R. Carr. Photo: SEI
Bonn, 20 January 2026 — The Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel to the Global Environment Facility (STAP), Rosina Bierbaum, and STAP Executive Secretary, Sunday Leonard, participated as observers in the third meeting of the GEF-9 replenishment in Bonn, Germany, alongside donor countries and members of the wider GEF partnership.
Washington, DC, 15 December 2025 — At the 70th meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council, Rosina Bierbaum, Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), underscored that multiple environmental indicators point to increasing risks, while emphasizing that timely and informed action can still alter current trajectories.
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) will participate in the 70th Global Environment Facility (GEF), the 5th GBFF, and the 39th (LDCF/SCCF) Council Meetings, scheduled virtually from 15 to 19 December 2025.
From June 2 to 6, representatives from the 186 member countries of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) will gather in Washington, DC for the 69th GEF Council Meeting. The Council will consider the allocation of $261 million across the GEF’s family of funds, including the GEF Trust Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund, and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.
The Science and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) will actively participate in the meeting, providing scientific and technical input to inform Council discussions and decisions.
Washington, DC, 26 February 2025 – In a critical moment for global environmental policy, with less than five years remaining to meet key international targets—leading experts gathered last week in Washington, DC, for the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meetings of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This pivotal event marked the formal start of the GEF ninth replenishment process, setting the stage for the next cycle (July 2026 to June 2030) of GEF investments in our planet.
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) will participate in the GEF Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meetings in Washington, D.C., from February 18 to 20, 2025.
TAGs bring together external experts, representatives from GEF agencies, STAP, environmental conventions, and the GEF Secretariat to provide scientific and technical insights that shape discussions on GEF priorities and strategic planning.
The GEF bulletin by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has published summary reports from the 68th meeting of the GEF Council. These reports in
On December 16 - 20, 2024, representatives of the Global Environment Facility's recipient and donor countries will meet virtually to consider more than $650 million for the management of chemical pollutants, climate adaptation needs, and other ecological challenges, including an expansion of support for Indigenous- and community-led environmental stewardship.
Why drought resilience matters for the global environment
Date: December 5, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Venue: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at MET– 04 and on X @STAP_GEF
Dr. Rosina Bierbaum, the STAP Chair, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sandy Andelman as the new STAP Panel member for the Global Environment Facility Biodiversity focal area.
Dr. Sandy Andelman is a conservation scientist with over 30 years of experience designing and implementing local- to global-scale initiatives at the intersection of science, policy, and practice across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States.
Photo caption: High-Level Panel during the Target 18 event. From Left: Valerie Hickey of the World Bank; Carlos Eduardo Correa, Colombia’s former minister of environment and sustainable development; Patricia Zurita of Conservation International; Eva Zabey of Business for Nature; Prasad Ananthakrishnan of the International Monetary Fund; and Moderator Rosina Bierbaum, STAP Chair. Photo: Justin Catanoso for Mongabay.
Rosina Bierbaum, the STAP Chair, is delighted to announce that Dr. Jon Barnett has been appointed the new STAP Panel Member for Climate Change Adaptation, effective June 1. 2024.
Dr. Barnett, an Australian national, is a human geographer in the School of Geography, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Melbourne. He also co-directs the Oceania Institute at The University of Melbourne, served six years as editor of Global Environmental Change, and was the Lead Author of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report.
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The Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), Dr. Rosina Bierbaum, presented the report of the Panel to the 66th meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on February 7, 2024.
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Rosina Bierbaum, STAP Chair, was elected to the American Philosophical Society (APS) in its biological sciences class - an honor for only 33 people in the world each year.
At the recent gala of The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Rosina Bierbaum, Chair of STAP, had the privilege of introducing Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, the CEO and Chair of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). He was honored for his achievements in biodiversity conservation and his commitment to the global environment.
During the 63rd GEF Council Meeting, Rosina Bierbaum, Chair, Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), presented the Report of the Chairperson of the STAP, discussing STAP’s work to help streamline the GEF project cycle, noting a new, simpler Project Identification Form (PIF) template, a new set of STAP screening guidelines, and a new STAP screening template.
On 30 November, Dr. Rosina Bierbaum, the STAP Chair, announced, that Dr. Ngonidzashe Chirinda had been appointed as the new Panel Member for Climate Change Mitigation. Dr. Bierbaum said that “Dr. Chirinda will add considerably to STAP’s breadth and depth!”
As part of the GEF family, STAP joins in mourning the overwhelming loss of renowned tropical scientist Gustavo Fonseca, the long-standing Director of Programs at the GEF, who passed away on August 30, 2022.
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel provides independent advice to the Global Environment Facility