The funding was approved during the Green Climate Fund’s 45th Board meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, held from June 29 to July 3. Syria’s delegation was led by Deputy Minister for Environmental Affairs Youssef Sharaf, according to the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment.

The ministry said the project followed six months of technical preparation carried out by its central directorates in cooperation with development partners before being submitted for consideration by the GCF Board.

Officials described the approval as a milestone for Syria’s engagement with international climate finance, ending years without access to Green Climate Fund financing and opening a new phase of cooperation on climate adaptation and sustainable development.

According to the ministry, the project is designed to strengthen the country’s ability to manage increasingly scarce water resources while improving water security in both urban and rural communities. It also aims to protect agriculture, safeguard livelihoods in regions most affected by climate change and improve Syria’s capacity to respond to future climate-related shocks.

The ministry said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to expand Syria’s participation in international environmental programs and strengthen partnerships with global institutions supporting climate adaptation, environmental recovery and reconstruction.

The Green Climate Fund was established in 2010 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to assist developing countries in financing climate mitigation and adaptation projects. Since its creation, the fund has approved more than $20 billion for projects in over 130 countries, including approximately $6 billion during 2025.

Syria’s successful application follows several years of institutional preparation. In 2021, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), working with the Green Climate Fund, implemented a capacity-building program aimed at strengthening Syria’s National Designated Authority and improving the country’s ability to prepare climate-related investment proposals.

Those efforts contributed to the development of Syria’s Country Programme for the Green Climate Fund, published in June 2023. The strategy identified agriculture, resilient cities, sustainable infrastructure and climate adaptation as national priorities for future international financing.

Water scarcity has become one of Syria’s most pressing environmental challenges after years of below-average rainfall, prolonged drought and the growing effects of climate change. Reduced water availability has placed increasing pressure on agricultural production, rural livelihoods and public water supplies across several parts of the country.

The newly approved project is intended to improve long-term resilience by strengthening water resource management systems and supporting communities facing the greatest climate-related risks.

The approval also represents a significant institutional development for Syria, providing a framework through which additional nationally driven climate initiatives could be presented to the Green Climate Fund in the future. Syrian officials said the project establishes a foundation for further cooperation with international climate finance institutions as the country seeks to address environmental vulnerabilities while advancing sustainable development priorities.

The Green Climate Fund operates as the principal financial mechanism supporting the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, providing grants, loans and other financial instruments to help developing countries adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The host of this year’s United Nations climate summit has called for a major acceleration in the electrification of transport, buildings and industry, arguing that a larger share of global energy consumption should come from electricity within the next decade to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Turkey’s environment minister Murat Kurum, who will preside over the COP31 climate conference in November alongside Australia, said the world should aim for electricity to provide 35% of final energy demand by 2035. Electricity currently accounts for about 20% of final energy use worldwide.

The proposal was presented as part of discussions among governments preparing priorities for the COP31 summit, which will be held in Antalya, Turkey.Electricity already represents a significant share of global power generation, with around one-third of electricity produced from renewable sources.

However, major energy-consuming sectors including transport, heating and heavy industry remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels.Nearly four-fifths of final energy consumption still comes from fossil fuels, according to current global energy patterns, leaving many economies dependent on coal, oil and gas for everyday activities and industrial production.

Kurum said expanding electrification across the economy would help accelerate the transition toward a lower-carbon energy system.He argued that replacing fossil fuel use with electricity in areas such as vehicles, buildings and manufacturing could reduce exposure to unstable energy markets while supporting climate goals.

The call came as governments gathered in Bonn for climate negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The meetings are focused on shaping the agenda and priorities for COP31.Australia’s climate change minister Chris Bowen, speaking alongside Kurum and UN climate chief Simon Stiell, said electrification and investment in clean energy had become central themes in early discussions.

Bowen said reducing fossil fuel dependence could help address both climate-related disasters and concerns over energy security.He pointed to examples ranging from industrial electrification in major manufacturing economies to clean cooking initiatives in African communities and renewable energy projects replacing diesel power in Pacific island nations.Renewable energy, he said, had become increasingly competitive as technology costs declined.

The push for electrification comes as countries face renewed concerns over energy prices and supply security. Recent geopolitical tensions, including the Iran war, have contributed to volatility in fossil fuel markets and pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel.Electric vehicles and heat pumps are among the technologies already available to support electrification.

However, adoption rates vary widely between countries due to differences in infrastructure, investment levels and government policy.Supporters of electrification argue that replacing direct fossil fuel use with electricity generated from renewable sources can significantly reduce emissions. However, the climate benefits depend on the carbon intensity of electricity systems and the pace at which renewable capacity expands.

The COP31 discussions are expected to focus on practical measures for increasing clean energy deployment, strengthening energy resilience and supporting countries as they transition away from fossil fuels.Kurum said the proposed 35% electricity target would be a central priority of Turkey’s COP31 presidency.

The summit will bring together governments seeking to balance emissions reductions with economic development, energy security and the need to adapt to increasingly severe climate impacts.