Ethiopia set a target to plant 6.5 billion seedlings in the forthcoming Ethiopian rainy season as part of its Green Legacy Initiative launched in 2019.
Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative was launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed with a vision of increasing Ethiopia’s forest coverage, making the country greener, mitigating the undesirable effects of climate change and environmental degradation, building a green and climate-resilient Ethiopia as well as contributing share for global efforts exerted to reduce climate change effects. Accordingly, for the last four consecutive years, the country has been executing massive tree plantation activities. Consequently, it can mobilize millions of citizens, register a remarkable success and grab the global headlines.
Merely within a four-year period, the nation has managed to plant more than 25 billion seedlings surpassing the goals of planting 20 billion in the stated years. Equally, understanding the fact that mitigating the impacts of climate change is an issue that demands the concerted efforts of all; Ethiopia also delivered over a billion tree seedlings to neighboring countries including Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and Somalia to help them underpin water and soil conservation activities and fight the adverse effects of climate change.
Ethiopia’s commitment and effort in reducing climate change related challenges through tree plantation, not only within its own territory but also in the surrounding areas, has received appreciation from various regional, continental and international organizations. Recently, Director Division Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration IGAD Secretariat Osman Mohammed Babikir (PhD) lauded Ethiopia’s successful green legacy initiative which will significantly contribute to the regional integration and reduce carbon emission.
“We have to think how to scale up such type of very successful initiatives, Green Legacy Initiative, which helps create a healthy planet. The initiative launched by the government of Ethiopia will significantly contribute to the effort geared towards reducing the impact of climate change by reducing gas emission and ensuring development in turn. Beyond contributing to climate change, the initiative is important for regional integration,” the Secretariat remarked. It is common knowledge that climate change is practically impacting our world and; the global community is experiencing the harsh consequences of the change in various ways.
Today ranging from prolonged drought to flood, from increased temperature to irregularity in rainfall, as well as loss of biodiversity and emergency of new infectious diseases, climate change is impacting the global community hugely. The situation is more overwhelming to developing countries that are vulnerable to the risks; and having insufficient coping capacities.
No question, fighting climate change requires wide-ranging, comprehensive responses. Thus, to ward off the risks successfully and address the socio-economic crisis of the challenge, investing in mitigation mechanisms is not only necessary but also mandatory. Currently, Ethiopia is readying itself to recommence the fifth round Green Legacy Initiative in this Ethiopian rainy season. And preparation of different types of saplings is well underway.
Thus, countries, understanding that the risk of climate change can be reversed through capitalizing on mitigation strategies, should follow Ethiopia’s bold step and support its endeavors. They should also bolster cooperation and join hands with Ethiopia to scale up the initiative to create a better future for next generations.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 31 MAY 2023
