AU Environment and Blue Economy Director Commends Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative

Addis Ababa, Sep 3, 2026 (ENA) —Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative is contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation while supporting biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, Africa Union Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy Director Harsen Nyambe said.

Nyambe noted that Ethiopia’s initiatives such as the Green Legacy Initiative provide multiple environmental benefits, including ecosystem services such as clean air, while also helping reduce carbon emissions that contribute to rising temperatures.

Speaking to ENA, he stated that such initiatives support climate change mitigation by reducing emissions, while simultaneously contributing to adaptation through the restoration of ecosystems and land.

“Basically, it’s multipurpose in terms of benefits, and it’s also supporting biodiversity,” the Director said.

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of experience-sharing among African countries, noting that member states have significant opportunities to learn from one another.
Nyambe cited Ethiopia’s Green Legacy as an example of an initiative from which other countries could draw lessons, particularly those facing similar environmental challenges and seeking to implement comparable projects.

According to him, Ethiopia should share its experience and information with other African countries so they can learn from initiatives already being implemented in the country.

“Ethiopia should take the floor and share the experience so that other countries can learn from them,” he stressed.

The Green Legacy Initiative has been implemented as part of the country’s efforts to restore degraded landscapes and expand tree coverage with its environmental interventions contributing to ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.