The Global Environment Fund (GEF) was established in 1990 by Dr. Jeffrey Leonard and John Earhart. It invests in businesses worldwide which offer cost-effective solutions to energy and environmental challenges. It manages private equity with $1 billion in aggregate capital and is devoted to sustainable forestry, clean technology and emerging markets. The investors of the Global Environment Fund include well known family offices, foundations, endowments and pension funds.
The mission of GEF is to improve the quality of life and environment by making profitable investments as a well known global private equity firm. It seeks to generate favorable risk adjusted return rates over a long period in various market conditions and multiple markets for its partners. The firm has invested in more than 30 early stage technology and private equity businesses in various economic sectors worldwide.
The investment team of Global Environment Fund possess specialized skills in legal structuring, private equity, corporate governance, business enterprise development, project finance and environmental technologies.
The Clean Technology team of GEF invests in companies which meets the traditional industries’ increasing demand for energy efficiency, pollution prevention and clean energy sources with technologies and services. It tracks opportunities for industrial efficiency technology, renewable energy generation, energy and environmental services.
The Emerging Markets team tackles environmental challenges due to urbanization and industrialization in the developing world. It does so by investing in water and wastewater treatment, clean energy, clean industrial technology, integrated waste management and healthcare services. It invests in growing worldwide markets especially in India, China, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
Direct equity investments are made in mid-sized sustainable forest management companies by the Forestry team in the Southern Hemisphere. These are companies who profit from environmentally certified wood products manufacturing and outstanding forest management practices. These along with the marketplace for forest ecosystem services like water system regulators, carbon sinks and protection of biological diversity opens up opportunities for business in timberlands.
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