Information disclosure

GCF seeks to ensure the greatest degree of transparency in all its activities through the effective dissemination of information.

Overview

Transparency is essential to achieve the Green Climate Fund’s mission to respond to climate change by investing in low-emission and climate-resilient development in developing countries.

Transparency enables GCF to provide the public with a clear picture of GCF’s work and the way it administers financial resources received from public, private and other sources.

Accordingly, the timely and effective provision of information about GCF and its activities is of paramount importance.

The Governing Instrument provides that GCF will operate in a transparent and accountable manner guided by efficiency and effectiveness.

 

Information Disclosure Policy

GCF seeks to ensure the greatest degree of transparency in all its activities through the effective dissemination of information to stakeholders and the public at large. Recognising the need to ensure public access and stakeholder participation, GCF sets out the Information Disclosure Policy (IDP) which outlines the information that is made available to the public either as a routine matter or upon request.

At its 12th meeting in March 2016, the Board adopted the Information Disclosure Policy (IDP) through which GCF reaffirms its commitment to transparency and accountability in all aspects of its operations.

GCF reaffirms its commitment to transparency in all of its activities and therefore seeks to maximise access to any documents and information that it produces and to information in its possession that is not on the list of exceptions. Furthermore, so long as GCF is not legally obligated to confidentiality, information on the list of exceptions will be disclosed in accordance with timelines and procedures specified for that purpose.

Any exceptions to disclosure will be predicated upon the possibility, narrowly and clearly defined, that the potential harm to interests, entities or parties arising from the disclosure of information would outweigh the benefits, that GCF is legally obligated to non-disclosure or has received information from third parties clearly marked as confidential. GCF may, in exceptional circumstances, decide not to disclose or delay dissemination of information that would normally be accessible if it determines that the harm that might occur by doing so will outweigh the benefits of access. GCF may also, in exceptional circumstances, make available to the public information ordinarily excluded from disclosure when it determines that the benefit would outweigh the potential harm, except where GCF is legally obligated to confidentiality.

GCF will employ all practical means to facilitate access to information, maximise access to such information, and use clear and cost-effective procedures and timelines for processing requests.

When denying access to information on request the GCF will provide an explanation for its decision. Requesters who believe they have been denied access to information in violation of this Policy will have the right to have such decision reviewed by the Information Appeals Panel.

Information requests

Requests for information may be submitted using the IDP Request for Information paper or online forms. Paper forms should be filled out and sent through mail or e-mail to:

Green Climate Fund Disclosure
175, Art Center-daero, Yeonsu-gu
Incheon 22004, Republic of Korea
disclosure@gcfund.org

Requests should indicate with reasonable specificity the information that is being sought to enable the Secretariat, within a reasonable period of time, to locate the information.

Requests for information and the corresponding decisions by the Secretariat will be written in English, which is the working language of GCF.

In responding to requests for information, the Secretariat will provide the requested information or document or refer the requester to the relevant link on the GCF website whenever possible.

In case of denial, the Secretariat will provide a legitimate reason as to why the information cannot be given, based on the following:

  • exceptions or limitations to disclosure defined by GCF;
  • the fact that such information does not exist or cannot be found; or
  • if the request is deemed to be an excessive demand on GCF’s resources.

GCF shall not be required to comply with, or respond to, repeated or unreasonable requests for information on the same subject from the same person, organization, or group if the GCF has provided such information after a previous request or has given reasons why it cannot provide information.

For information requests that involve the reproduction of material, GCF may charge a fee, which will be communicated to the requester in advance.