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Statement by Minister Aso on reappointment of Dr.Ishii to the CEO of the GEF

October 23, 2015

Statement by Mr. Taro ASO, Minister of Finance, Japan

 On Friday, October 23 (Thursday, October 22 (EST)), Dr. Naoko ISHII, incumbent Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), was reappointed at the GEF Council Meeting held in Washington D.C.

 Since assuming the office of the CEO in 2012, Dr. ISHII has demonstrated her outstanding leadership in the GEF, which is tackling broader environmental issues, including climate change, biodiversity, soil degradation, ocean and marine resources, and disposal of chemicals and waste. I am convinced that her reappointment resulted from the high appreciation by all GEF members for her significant achievements and capacity as well as the contributions made by Japan to global environmental issues and the GEF.

 Promotion of sustainable development and environment policy is becoming increasingly important as this year marks the adoption of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development for 2030 at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September, and given high expectations for an agreement on a new fair and effective international framework in which all major economies participate at the 21st Conference of Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in December. At this conjuncture, I expect the GEF, with Dr. ISHII’s continued leadership, to steadily fulfill its missions to help developing countries tackle global environmental issues.