With reference to 'Global Environment Facility', which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Option (A) is correct. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established to help tackle pressing environmental problems. It explicitly serves as the financial mechanism for several major international environmental conventions, including the 'Convention on Biological Diversity' (CBD) and the 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change' (UNFCCC), as well as others like the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and the Minamata Convention on Mercury. 2. Option (B) is incorrect. The GEF primarily provides funds for projects and programs; it does not typically undertake its own scientific research on environmental issues at the global level. Research is often conducted by implementing agencies or specific research bodies. 3. Option (C) is incorrect. The GEF is an independently operating financial organization, established as a partnership among 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector. It is not an agency under the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). While it facilitates the transfer of technology and funds to developing countries and economies in transition, this description is incomplete and the institutional affiliation is wrong. 4. Option (D) is incorrect because option (B) is incorrect.