The 200,000 solar home project forms a central component of the government's off-grid electrification strategy. I am pleased to say that, in a short time and with limited funds, the GEF has increased the worldwide output of photovoltaic energy alone by more than five-fold. Those projects are examples of sustainable development that will benefit both local economies and the global environment. Solar energy that enables poor farmers to pump water to their fields and to their homes, to light their village schools and hospitals, and to replace fuel wood in their cooking fires makes a difference in the planetary level of greenhouse gas emissions. It also makes a huge difference in the quality of life and the ability of hundreds of millions of people to manage other natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Biological diversity is another busy intersection of global and local priorities.
Sustainable development depends on finding and maintaining a productive balance between human needs and available natural resources. Preserving biodiversity requires the same dynamic equilibrium. And here again, you will find the GEF, through its implementing agencies, involved in pioneering local partnerships that hold the promise of preserving natural wealth while strengthening the foundation of economic activity. For example, we have supported two complementary approaches, both of which focus on engaging rural people as efficient resource managers. One strategy involves straightforward reforestation efforts in protected areas of Mauritius, Bhutan and Nepal.