Ethiopia Takes Leading Role in Combating Climate Change: African Union Youth Assembly-Ethiopia Director

Addis Ababa December 9/2023 (ENA)Ethiopia is taking the leading role in combating climate change with its presentable actions and measures, African Union  Youth Assembly-Ethiopia  International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs Director Wechkuoth said. 

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Andres G. Wechkuoth said the government's commitment to combating climate change with the Green Legacy Initative is so commendable. 

Planting more seedlings can have a significant and positive impact on the environment by reducing carbon dioxide and promoting bio-diversity. 

It also helps to combat deforestation and erosion and such efforts contribute a lot to ensure a green and more sustainable future for Ethiopia in particular, and the planet as whole, the director stated. 

Highlighting that the initiative has been receiving many recognitions and appreciations from different institutions, Wechkuoth added that it deserves more recognition, participation, innovation and collaboration. 

Some of the possible actions are encouraging citizens, especially women and youth, to join the tree planting campaigns and take care of the planted seedlings, introducing more varieties of eco-friendly and climate resilient seedlings that can provide multiple benefits such as food, income and bio-diversity protection. 

Regional organizations, international agencies and other countries have to exert maximum efforts to share Ethiopia’s best practices to promote the Green Legacy Initiative, the director underlined. 

Though Ethiopia’s Green Legacy has received a lot of recognition from the different international entities, what is the most important thing is recognizing the initiative as part of the environmental combating of climate change.

“I do see Ethiopia as a country that is taking the lead, showing other countries as an example. It is so impressive, I think other nations should take Ethiopia as an example.”

For the director and environmental and climate activist, the Green Legacy Initiative should be recognized as one of the African initiatives.

According to him, unlike many other countries Ethiopia has something to present as green legacy and something presentable. 

“What is much important now is we should always take examples; and we can set the tone for the other generations. Ethiopia has already built a future for the generation that will never be forgettable.”

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched the Green Legacy Initiative in June 2019 with a target of planting 20 billion seedlings within a period of four years.

In this framework, the country has so far planted over 32.5 billion tree seedlings and broken its own record of planting seedlings.  

In December, 2022, PM Abiy was awarded the "Outstanding African Leadership Award" in recognition of the Green Legacy Initiative.