Ethiopia’s green legacy initiative received recognition in Dubai while portraying an exhibition alongside the COP28 summit. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan along with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) visited the Ethiopian Green Legacy Pavilion last Thursday in Dubai.
Premier Abiy said on his social media page, “I thank my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for visiting Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Pavilion at COP28 where we are showcasing strong commitment to address climate change through concrete solutions.”
Information from the Prime Minister’s office indicated that Ethiopia is promoting its green development work at the 28th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).
The two leaders visited the Ethiopian Pavilion before the official opening of the exhibition. It is to be recalled that Ethiopia expressed its desire to make a meaningful participation in the COP28 and to work closely with the UAE on the green development and climate change arenas.
Indeed, the effort Ethiopia exerted to carry out the greenery project investing huge capital and human resource indicates that the government’s commitment is high and the peoples’ collaboration immense.
In line with this, the fact that the UAE President visited the pavilion earlier to the official opening of the exhibition tells that both countries have close relation to work conjointly in various ways including the green legacy initiative. This moment adds pride for Ethiopians participating in the greenery project as the president’s visit witnesses his apprise for the effort Ethiopians made.
Truly, Ethiopia’s effort and the success registered in this regard deserve recognition not only from the UAE, but from the rest of the world. This time, the global community everywhere is experiencing the adverse effect of the climate change. Global heat is rising, forest fire is being aggravated, flood is causing damage, and drought is leaving people and animals without food and water. All these consequences of the climate change are severely affecting inhabitants of our world even the pollutants couldn’t escape.
Effects of the climate change are amidst the top stories in news whether broadcast, print or online media these days exhibiting loss of lives and property destruction. It is an alarming call for the international community to speak in one voice to the industrially advanced countries to pay attention to what they are doing against climate. Equally as they are responsible for pollution that resulted in climate change and agent for multifaceted loses, they have to be accountable for the damages the earth is experiencing to date that seem to continue unless curative measures are taken.
What Ethiopia is doing in its greenery project is of paramount importance for the climate change struggle. The country has planted billions of seedlings in the past consecutive years investing billions of dollar. If calculated in terms of money, one dollar for one seedling from nurturing station up to transplantation areas in a minimum cost, billions of the seedlings cost the country high amount of investment. Ethiopians feel pride for what they have done in the greenery project as it is not only for the sake of their own but for the benefit of the whole world and the posterity.
Thus, it should be assumed as green gift for all and the reward must compensate the expense both in recognition and in kind that is expressed in financial support particularly from those in the forefront when talking about polluting the atmosphere.
As a developing country, Ethiopia cannot afford the greenery project cost alone so that it is essential to call for action the concerned bodies to stretch hands in saving our world from the catastrophe it is passing through.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER 2023
