The international community should unite in the face of common challenges and strengthen collective action on climate change, said Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen at the AMCEN in Addis Ababa.
Addressing the conference, the minister noted that the event is a good platform for all stakeholders to come together and jointly find solutions to the devastating effects of climate change. The conference brought together environmental ministers of African nations, representatives of international organizations and environmental protection experts.
Against this backdrop, he stressed the need for African countries to work with international partners to mitigate these negative impacts and ensure that the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals are met.
The minister recalled that Ethiopia, for its part, has embarked on the creation of a green economy. The country has developed a comprehensive policy for the mitigation of climate change, including the Green Legacy initiative. Under this initiative, in the next four years, the country is planning to plant 25 billion seedlings in different cities and rural areas.
Ethiopia's Minister of Planning and Development, Fitsum Assefa, who also attended the conference, highlighted the importance of such a gathering, which is seen as a manifestation of Africa's commitment to collectively address the challenges it faces.
The minister noted that Ethiopia has ratified several multilateral agreements on climate change and is doing its best to meet its responsibilities. In particular, she mentioned the Green Legacy Initiative launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Since the implementation of the program in June 2019, remarkable progress has been made in reducing carbon emissions and land degradation. In addition, Ethiopia has made efforts to extend the initiative to neighboring states, she noted.
According to the prime minister, over the past four years, Ethiopia has set a target of planting 20 billion seedlings under the Green Legacy initiative and has "executed accordingly." The Ethiopian leader emphasized that it is crucial to "dream big and aim high" as the nation seeks to "cultivate a green culture."