ADDIS ABABA — In celebration of World Environment Day, the Addis Ababa City Administration Environmental Protection Authority, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Environment Authority, organized a tour of the capital’s riverside development projects yesterday.
The initiative, held ahead of the 52nd global and 32nd national observance of World Environment Day on June 5, is being commemorated under the theme “Let’s Fight Plastic Pollution Together.”
Speaking during the event, the Addis Ababa City Environmental Protection Authority Chief Executive Officer Dida Diriba underscored the significance of the initiative. “We are committed to cleaning and rehabilitating the rivers within our city,” he said. “This project is being carried out with great care to ensure a healthier and cleaner environment for all residents.”
The Ethiopian Environment Authority General Director Eng. Lelise Name also addressed participants, emphasizing the broader impact of river pollution. “Preventing and eliminating pollutants from our rivers is essential for making our city and country clean, livable, and sustainable,” she said. “Through collective action, we can build an environmentally resilient future.”
The tour highlighted various ongoing efforts to restore and protect urban rivers—natural assets critical to the city’s ecological health and residents’ well-being. Attendees engaged in discussions on environmental conservation and the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution at all levels.
As World Environment Day approaches, the spotlight on Addis Ababa’s riverside development underscores the city’s growing commitment to sustainable urban development and public environmental awareness.
BY NAOL GIRMA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 5 JUNE 2025
