Diego Mesa Puyo, a Colombian-Canadian economist and sustainable development expert, began a four-year term as CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the world's largest public funder for the environment. His tenure starts during the 2026–2030 GEF-9 funding cycle, supported by more than $4.3 billion in initial donor pledges, including a £330 million commitment announced by the UK government last week. Mesa Puyo previously served as Colombia's Minister of Energy and Mines and as Deputy Chief of the Climate Policy Division at the International Monetary Fund. His priorities include integrated environmental solutions, blended finance (combining public and private capital), broader government and community participation, and stronger institutional effectiveness, with increased support for Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.