The Global Stocktake (GST) is a key mechanism created by the Paris Agreement. It attempts to analyze countries’ combined progress toward the agreement’s long-term climate change mitigation goals.
Its objective is to evaluate progress. The GST assesses how successfully countries meet their pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support adaptation initiatives, and provide financial assistance to developing nations. It also influences future actions. The GST findings provide insights that can help countries improve their climate objectives and policies in future Nationally Determined Contributions.
It structurally has its own periodic process. The GST is implemented every five years, with the first one taking place in 2023. It also promotes inclusive involvement. The GST is open to all parties to the Paris Agreement and serves as a forum for international conversation and collaboration.
GST focuses on mitigation, adaptation, financing, and assistance. In terms of mitigation, the GST evaluates efforts toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to low-carbon economies. It also fosters adaptability. Evaluation of measures to strengthen resilience to climate change and assist vulnerable populations. Furthermore, it examines financial and support tasks. Review of money flows, technological transfer, and capacity-building initiatives to assist developing countries.
Its findings provide recommendations for future use in climate change mitigation efforts. More specifically, the GST will make suggestions to improve future climate actions at the national and international levels. Furthermore, it fosters greater ambition in climate change mitigation measures. The process intends to urge governments to raise their emissions-reduction and adaptation targets.
Thus, the GST is an important vehicle for accountability and transparency in the global climate regime. It helps to guarantee that governments are held responsible for their promises and promotes international collaboration in combating climate change.
Recognizing this, the 1st Global Stocktake (GST) serves as a crucial component of the Paris Agreement, focused on assessing the collective progress of countries towards the long-term goals of the agreement, particularly in limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and working to restrict the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The first GST was held in 2023 and included a thorough examination of countries’ climate initiatives, such as carbon reduction obligations (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs), adaptation measures, and assistance to developing countries. The method attempted to assess the effectiveness of present measures while also identifying gaps, difficulties, and possibilities for improving climate action.
The outcomes of the GST aim to inform future climate policies and encourage countries to enhance their ambitions regarding emissions reductions and climate resilience. It serves as a crucial mechanism for accountability and transparency in the global effort to combat climate change.
This year, the GST meeting was held at Petersberg. The Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD) is an annual event that brings together climate ministers and representatives from various countries to discuss and advance international climate negotiations. It is often seen as a platform for fostering dialogue, building consensus, and preparing for major climate conferences, such as the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Here, it is essential to ask how Ethiopia is addressing climate change and its commitment to mitigating it in relation to GST. Another important question that needs to be answered is what key tasks Ethiopia has been undertaking for environmental protection.
It is true that Ethiopia is committed to mitigating climate change through various mechanisms. Unlike many countries, Ethiopia has an ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs) by 65 percent.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Planning and Development, Dr. Fitsum Assefa, is participating in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD) 2025, which focuses on the 1st Global Stocktake (GST). She stated that the Government of Ethiopia is committed to fully implementing the outcomes of the 1st Global Stocktake (GST) in accordance with the Paris Agreement. The Minister further emphasized the need for enhanced and renewed commitment to address the ever-increasing impacts of climate change.
She conveyed that the Government of Ethiopia remains committed to championing climate action by announcing the hosting of the 2nd Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) and warmly inviting participants to confirm their attendance. She emphasized that Ethiopia urges a transition from promises to action at COP30 in Brazil, making it a pivotal moment for rectifying our past narrative.
She also called for a renewed collective commitment to curb the increasing negative impact of climate change. She added that Ethiopia is committed to fully implementing the recommendations of the first phase of the Paris Climate Change Goals Comprehensive Assessment Framework (1st Global Stocktake).
She stated that Ethiopia will host the Second African Climate Change Conference in September 2025, showcasing its ongoing commitment and leadership role in addressing climate change. The conference is also vital for evaluating and implementing necessary actions in climate change mitigation efforts.
She added that Ethiopia’s calls for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), to be held in Brazil in November 2025, represent a crucial turning point in turning promises into action, correcting past mistakes, and moving onto the right path.
She also held a discussion with COP30 President Andrés Correa do Lago on the sidelines of the conference. Accordingly, the discussion focused on Ethiopia and Brazil’s collaboration on COP30 agendas and Ethiopia’s presentation of its climate change mitigation efforts, including green footprint and food system reform initiatives, to conference participants.
President André invited Ethiopia to join the “United for Bio-coalition,” and Brazil pledged to provide the necessary support to Ethiopia to showcase its work at the COP29 conference.
In the same vein, the Minister met with H.E. Simon Stiell, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, to discuss potential collaboration between Ethiopia and the UNFCCC Secretariat on how Ethiopia and Africa in general could meet their interests in the UNFCCC process, such as hosting Africa Climate Week and inviting him to Ethiopia’s sponsored Africa Climate Summit in September 2025. The two parties committed to collaborating closely in addressing climate change.
The Petersberg Climate meeting 2025 is a meeting hosted by the German and Brazilian governments in Berlin on March 25-26, 2025, that has been held annually before to each COP. This year, it invites approximately 40 countries from around the world, who are expected to define the intended objectives of COP30.
In general, the Petersberg Climate Dialogue 2025 will have a significant impact on influencing the global response to climate change and GST as countries prepare for future negotiations and strive to accomplish their climate goals more effectively. Ethiopia’s comment was also demonstrated during the meeting. As a result, it is critical to recognize and support Ethiopia’s climate change mitigation measures. Supporting Ethiopia’s climate change mitigation measures benefits not only the country, but also the region, continent, and world.
BY EPHREM ANDARAGCHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 6 APRIL 2025
