The United Nations Climate Conference (COP 26) is ongoing in Glasgow, UK, since 01 November 2021 mobilizing the world political leaders to discuss and decide the planet’s climate change problem. So far, the conference is experiencing both appreciation and criticism. The absence of China and Russian Presidencies at the conference was criticized by the U.S. President while China rejected the criticism by saying “China gives due attention to practical action than words to fight climate change.”
The COP 26 session is also criticized for its non-inclusiveness of all relevant actors and stakeholders. The climate activist, Greta Thunberg on her social media announced that “COP26 has been named the most exclusive COP ever” adding “this is no longer a climate conference” rather “a Global North green-wash festival.” She criticized that “a two-week celebration of business as usual and blah blah blah.”
Though attractive promises on climate change are not something new, good promises are agreed by countries to halt climate change. Among the efforts so far, over 100 countries have pledged during the summit to stop deforestation by 2030 fully. Countries including Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, China, the United States, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which collectively account for 85 percent of the world’s forests are among the 100 countries that promised to halt deforestation within 10 years.
The promise of halting deforestation in the coming ten years by the 100 countries needs over 19 billion USD in public and private funds to invest in protecting and restoring forests. The Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use will cover forests totaling more than 33 million square kilometers, according to a statement from the British prime minister’s office on behalf of the leaders, the international media reported.
Meanwhile, over 40 countries have also agreed to phase out coal-fired power by 2030s and the least economic countries by 2040s during the past days of the COP session. In addition, during the opening program of the summit, the UN chief and officials of the rich countries call for the implementation of financial promises immediately to accelerate the climate action globally.
A climate team from Ethiopia led by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission (EEC) Commissioner, Professor Fekadu Beyene is attending the Glasgow Climate Conference, the COP 26 since the early days of the session. Parallel to the session, the Ethiopian team is also joining other bilateral and sideline events on climate and environment-related topics with countries and international institutions, according to EEC.
EEC reported on Tuesday that Ethiopia has presented its green legacy initiative experience at a side event invited by South Korea. During the discussion, officials from the UN argued that Ethiopia’s green legacy campaign can be taken as the best lesson for developing countries in their struggle against climate change and deforestation.
Speaking at the discussion, the Director of the UN Convention on Combat Desertification stated that African countries and other developing nations that are affected by climate change should act using their maximum capacities using the available opportunities. He calls all developing countries to implement practical actions in new plantation and natural resource conservation taking lessons from the actual actions of Ethiopia, according to the report from EEC.
EEC Commissioner Prof. Fekadu on his part during the discussion stated that Ethiopia’s green legacy action is broad-based that mobilized the general public to reforest degraded and deforested areas of the country to boost the country’s forest coverage to 30 percent within less than 10 years.
With the plan of planting 20 billion seedlings across the country from 2019 to 2022, the commissioner noted, Ethiopia has planted over 15 billion seedlings. During the discussion, experience from South Korea showed that forest coverage helps not only conservation of ecology but also as a means to preserve peace and stability.
The Ethiopian team also discussed with the Minister for Korea Forest Service on the two countries’ cooperation on forest development, according to EEC’s report. South Korea’s Forest Service promised to pledge 100 thousand Dollars through International Green Development for Coalition to support Ethiopia’s forest development, it noted.
Ethiopia has also attended the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) parallel to the COP 26 session in Glasgow. UN Secretary-General, António Guterres during the forum stated that the financial, technical, and capacity-building supports for most climate change vulnerable countries should be implemented immediately.
At the CVF session, a UK representative stated that though developing countries are contributing less to climate change, they are the most vulnerable and affected.
The representative told the member countries of the forum that the government of the UK announced a 40 million pound project to support the member countries’ efforts to halt climate vulnerability and effects. At the CVF discussion, Ethiopia also presented its green development experience. Professor Fekadu at the forum stated that Ethiopia is implementing nature-based and homegrown methods to combat climate change and its impacts.
Professor Fekadu noted that Ethiopia is investing its maximum capacity to conserve natural ecology, to develop a green economy supported by renewable energy, massive plantation to recover deforested areas. Ethiopia’s and other developing countries’ greenery efforts should be supported financially, technically, and technologically for further actions and broader changes.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD NOVEMBER 9/2021
