Diego Mesa Puyo elected next GEF Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson
The former Colombian Minister of Mines and Energy will lead the world's largest public funder for the environment for an initial four-year term.
WASHINGTON – The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council has announced the election of Diego Mesa Puyo as the fund's next Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson, according to an announcement dated 6 August 2026.
Mesa Puyo, described as an international leader in energy policy, economic development and sustainability, will serve an initial four-year term aligned with the GEF-9 funding cycle and the final push towards the critical 2030 environmental goals.
Before his election, he served as Deputy Division Chief for Climate Policy at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
As Colombia's Minister of Mines and Energy in the 2018-2022 administration, he led one of Latin America's most ambitious energy transition agendas. The market reforms he launched mobilised more than $3 billion in private investment and accelerated the deployment of variable renewable energy from near zero to one of the region's fastest-growing clean energy markets.
He also played a key role in advancing energy transition and climate action legislation, embedding sustainability objectives within economic and development policy.
"I am deeply honoured to serve as CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility at this pivotal moment for the international community," Mesa Puyo said.
"Countries need trusted partners who can help turn ambition into action. Building on the GEF's remarkable legacy, I look forward to working with the Secretariat, member countries and partners around the world to deliver on environment and development goals together by integrating solutions, catalysing investment and delivering measurable results for people and the planet."
The GEF is the world's largest public funder for the environment and serves as the financial mechanism for six multilateral conventions, including those on biodiversity, climate change and pollution.
Donor countries have pledged an initial $3.9 billion for the ninth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund, which the fund said reflects a strong commitment to protecting and restoring nature through multilateral cooperation.
Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $27 billion in financing, mainly as grants, and mobilised a further $155 billion for country-driven priority projects.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.