Africa needs to work with international partners to create safer, sustainable future: DPM &FM Demeke

Addis Ababa, August 17, 2023 (FBC) – The 19th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) opened today at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa.

In his opening remarks at the Conference, Demeke Mekonnen, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia said, “as the challenges related climate change and environmental degradation are compromising our objectives to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 of the African Union, Africa needs to work with international partners to create a safer and more sustainable future.”

“These manifold challenges threaten the resource base of agriculture in Africa,” he added.

Demeke also underscored the fact that standing together in matters of climate change and sustainable development is a global responsibility and also commended the African Group of Negotiators for their coordination of African common positions in climate and environmental negotiations.

Speaking of national imperatives in this regard, the DPM and FM noted, Green Legacy Initiative and a long-term climate resilient economic strategy are key tools for combatting the adverse effects of climate change and realising the aspirations of the SGDs and Agenda 2063 in the country.

Concluding his remarks, Demeke reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to supporting initiatives that seek to address environmental challenges. He also stressed the fact that only through enhanced global partnership that humanity can effectively achieve a sustainable solution.

The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) is a platform for collective endeavors to action. The conference plays a key role in shaping Africa’s response to pressing challenges relating to climate change, sustainable development, and the environment.

Minister for Planning and Development, Fitsum Assefa, addressing the Ministerial Segment Opening Ceremony of the 19th session of AMCEN, for her part, reiterated government’s commitment in the ratification of global multilateral environmental agreements and development and implementation of national environmental and climate change policies and strategies.

The minister highlighted the submission of Ethiopia’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its ambitious 68% emission reduction target, the inclusion of 40 adaptation options in the updated NDC and the 20% finance commitment of the government to implement the NDC. Fitsum stated the submission of the 2050 Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LDS 2050).

Fitsum also stated Ethiopia’s commitment in implementing Green Legacy Initiatives by mentioning the daily achievement made by engaging more than 35 million people and by planting more than half a billion seedlings.