Ethiopia affirms commitment to implement decisions made during COP28, cooperate with all stakeholders
Addis Ababa, January 22, 2024 (FBC) – The Ministry of Planning and Development of Ethiopia has issued a statement regarding the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) which was held from 30 November to 12 December in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The statement says that Ethiopia successfully participated in climate change negotiations, bilateral and multilateral discussions held on the sideline of COP28 and held an exhibition on projects and programs the nation has been implementing in response to climate change.
According to the statement, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), in his remark at the COP28 which was attended by leaders of 150 countries, stated that Ethiopia has planted 32.5 billion seedlings as per its Green Legacy Initiative to respond to climate change challenges and highlighted other activities in wheat production, renewable energy supply, results of activities to ensure food self-sufficiency and eco-friendly transport alternatives.
The premier pointed out that Ethiopia’s climate change measures are facing significant challenges due to debt burden, calling countries and international organizations for appropriate improvements in this regard, the Ministry indicated.
During the conference, Ethiopia signed a 600 million USD agreement with a company named UAE AMEA Power to build a wind power plant with will have a capacity to generate of 300 MW of energy. The county has also inked a 8 million Euros agreement with the government of Italy for environmental development and climate change projects.
Ethiopia participated in COP28 as a leading member of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) and Africa Group of Negotiators/AGN) and Least Developed counties Group (LDC). Ethiopia played a crucial role in coordinating African nations to consolidate their voice and negotiate in a unified manner as the current president of AMCEN.
On the side of the climate change conference, Ethiopia has presented its success stories through 35 forums highlighting the areas it has been praised for globally including the Green Legacy Initiative, sustainable agriculture and food self-sufficiency, renewable energy supply and water use, urban development, transportation, low-carbon incentive system and the ongoing participation of the private sector in climate change and green development.
Ethiopia’s aspirations in different sectors and successful activities were presented at its Green Legacy Pavilion Exhibition which was visited by a total of 5,295 conference participants and Dubai-based residents including the president of the United Arab Emirates with an average of 353 visitors per day, according to the statement by the Ministry.
Members of the delegation of various countries and media professionals that visited pavilion appreciated Ethiopia’s green development exhibition as unparalleled compared to the previous ones in the sector.
Many countries have also expressed interest to draw lessons from Ethiopia’s climate change activities, the Ministry said.
Our country has signed declarations for comprehensive stakeholders’ cooperation framework that have been facilitated by UAE, president of COP28, in areas of agriculture, renewable energy, health, conflict avoidance and peace.
The Ministry, referring to Ethiopia’s firm stance on multilateral cooperative frameworks, reiterates nation’s commitment to implementing the decisions made during COP28 and working cooperatively with all stakeholders during the implementation process.