Ethiopia has been vulnerable to climate change related catastrophes for decades. It has been affected by frequent droughts, flooding and other natural disasters. Having noticed such challenges, the government has designed Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) policies and strategies that could combat the challenges.
How is the nation implementing green economy policy? How much is the policy effective in ensuring the intended goal? What are the challenges in implementing it?
Ethiopia has launched CRGE in 2011 to overcome climate change and to create robust and sustainable economy. Since its introduction, the strategy has brought encouraging results in recovering deforested areas and in minimizing climate-change related hazards, says Mensur Dessie, Director of Multilateral Environmental Negotiation Coordination at the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission.
He states that Ethiopia is one of the climate change-induced-catastrophe -prone countries and it has been paying huge price for several years as it has not the capability to address it. ‘‘Nowadays, climate change-induced drought has become a common phenomena in Ethiopia. Since 60 percent of Ethiopia’s population live in areas with erratic rain, it has been affected by drought. Having realized this, the government is implementing a feasible CRGE policy. Hence, fruitful results have been registered so far,’’ he noted.
In the Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTPII), projects that could reduce carbon emission and deforestation were undertaken, according to him. He adds that the country has been striving to develop renewable energy source to combat climate change and environmental degradation.
‘‘Ethiopia’s energy source depends on renewable energy. As a result, it is playing massive role in protecting biodiversity. This would also have positivecontribution in realizing the green economy policy,’’ the director underscores.
Mensur insists that Ethiopia is always committed to tackle climate change and it has been expressing its strong position in international arena on climate change related agendas. For his part, Lecturer of Geography and Environment Science at Addis Ababa University, Kassahun Bahru says intensive research is needed to identify the factors that could cause climate change and the mechanisms to address it.
He reaffirms that climate change is becoming a severe problem in Ethiopia which has claimed human lives and animals so far. As part of ensuring green economy, government and non-government organizations should introduce modern facilities, technology, finance and skilled human power in areas of water and soil conservation, reforestation and reducing carbon emission gases, Kassahun indicates.
Ethiopia has been undertaking massive seedlings planting campaigns to restore the devastated forest coverage of the nation as part of realizing the green economy policy, according to him. ‘‘Ethiopia has forest coverage in the late century. However, due to many reasons, huge hectare of forest land had suffered destruction. To rehabilitate the environment, nationwide seedling planting campaign was carried out and billions of tree seedlings were planted this year only. This would have pivotal contribution in combating climate change and achieving green economy policy,’’ he underlined.
Ethiopia aims to build green economy that relies on renewable energy source. Thus, hydroelectric dams, wind and solar energy projects have been implemented and the multi-billion Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam is under construction. Upon completion, the nation would gain capability of creating an economy that could effectively combat climate change and related predicaments.
The Ethiopian Herald, Sunday Edition October 13/2019
BY TSEGAY HAGOS
