The audited financial statements for the years ending December 31, 2017 and 2016 include the income statement, statement of financial position, statement of changes in funds, statement of cashflows and the notes to the financial statements of GCF. The income statement outlines income earned and expenses incurred within 2017 while the statement of financial position lists the fund's assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2017. The difference between the assets and liabilities as of the preparation date shows the funds available as of 31 December 2017. Since income earned and expenses incurred are not equivalent to cash received and cash paid out respectively, the statement of cashflows aids in showing the actual cash inflows and outflows within 2017 and thus shows the liquid cash available by 31 December 2017. Finally, notes to financial statements give further information to enable the readers understand the information presented in the other four statements.

The 2017 financial statements were prepared by the Green Climate Fund Secretariat, complying with the International Financial Reporting Standards framework. The Secretariat maintains appropriate accounting and internal control systems to enable production of reliable financial statements. These include written policies and instructions, segregation of duties and internal checks, qualified and well-trained personnel, routine audits and oversight of the reporting process by the Ethics and Audit Committee.

Grant Thornton, an independent audit firm, was engaged to review and provide an opinion on whether the 2017 financial statements have been prepared and presented fairly and in accordance with the international financial reporting framework, in all material respect to the financial position, financial performance and cashflows for the year to 31 December 2017. To do so, they obtained an understanding of the secretariat's internal control system and designed appropriate audit procedures to achieve their objective. They requested the secretariat for appropriate evidence to enable them to form the opinion.