– Premier confers with various leaders in Dubai
ADDIS ABABA– For Ethiopia, the battle to protect and heal the planet is the battle for growth and prosperity, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) said.
Addressing the 28th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (Cop 28) in Dubai yesterday, the Premier stated that Ethiopia has taken bold steps to reduce emission and build environmental resilience.
Ethiopia launched the Green Legacy Initiative,-the powerful nature based solution, in 2019 and over the past five years, over 130,000 nurseries have been established in different parts of the country. “Yearly, millions of people have been mobilized in seedling planting and seedling management in Ethiopia.”
The Premier also said Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative represents a proactive response to pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges. It reduces carbon emissions, preserves biodiversity, creates jobs and boosts sectors such as tourism. “I am proud to say that this initiative has reached remarkable success by planting 32.5 billion seedlings and our target is to reach 50 billion by 2026. When completed, this initiative will become the largest afforestation project in the world.”
Earlier, he held talks with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and UK’s Former Prime Minister Tony Blair at the Ethiopian Green Legacy Pavilion on the sidelines of COP28.
PM Abiy discussed with President Miguel Díaz-Canel about global climate change responsibility, bilateral cooperation and national development issues. The two leaders also discussed ways to foster cooperation in the tourism and agriculture sectors.
Abiy and Alexander De Croo held talks on cooperation between their countries in climate change and the scaling up of the partnership in various areas of mutual interest.
The Premier’s discussion with Tony Blair was concerned with ways of further implementing Ethiopia’s greenery campaign.
It is to be recalled that PM Abiy conferred with the hosting country’s President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Ethiopian Green Legacy Pavilion about global climate change and other issues of mutual significance.
The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aka Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC or COP 28 is being held from 30 November until 12 December 2023 at Expo City, Dubai.
BY BILAL DERSO
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER 2023
