As a pioneering champion of the battle against the effects of climate change since 2011 when the nation developed Climate Change Resilient Green Economy Policy and Strategy, Ethiopia has declared a bold departure from expensive fossil fuel based economy to climate resilient green economy and zero carbon emission by 2050 in a document entitled “Ethiopia’s Long Term Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development Strategy (2020-2050) in Line with the Paris Agreement and also delivered Nationally Determined Contribution to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Both documents were effectively synchronized with Ethiopia’s Ten Years Perspective Plan and other pertinent development strategies related to CRGES.
Ethiopia has participated in all COP conferences, including the recently conducted COP 28, which was conducted in Dubai, UAE from November 30 to December 12. Reporting on the deliberations of the Conference, the Ministry of Planning and Development Ethiopia staged an exhibition on various projects the country has conducted over the past several years in response to mitigating climate change in Ethiopia.
On this conference in which 150 countries were represented, Prime Minister Abiy stated that Ethiopia has so far planted 32.5 billion seedlings in the National Green Legacy Initiative in response to mitigating the effects of climate change globally and at the national level. He mentioned the achievements Ethiopia has made in being self-sufficient in wheat and the efforts underway to develop and expand renewable energy resources across the country. During the Conference Ethiopia signed 600 million USD agreements with a company named UAE MEA to build a wind power plant which can generate 300 MW. Ethiopia also signed 8 million euros with the Government of Italy for environmental development and climate change mitigation projects.
Ethiopia participated in COP28 as a leading member of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) and Africa Group of Negotiators/AGN) and Least Developed counties Group (LDC). Ethiopia played a crucial role in coordinating African nations to consolidate their voice and negotiate in a unified manner as the current president of AMCEN.
On the side of the climate change conference, Ethiopia has presented its success stories through 35 forums highlighting the areas it has been praised for globally including the Green Legacy Initiative, sustainable agriculture and food self-sufficiency, renewable energy supply and water use, urban development, transportation, low-carbon incentive system and the ongoing participation of the private sector in climate change and green development.
At the end of the Conference, various resolutions were made regarding The loss and damage fund designed to support climate-vulnerable developing countries was brought to life on the first day of the COP. Countries have pledged hundreds of millions of dollars so far for the fund; Commitments of worth $3.5 billion to replenish the resources of the Green Climate Fund; New announcements totaling over $150 million for the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDC) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).
An increase of $9 billion annually by the World Bank to finance climate-related projects (2024 and 2025);
Nearly 120 countries backed COP28 UAE Climate and Health Declaration to accelerate actions to protect people’s health from growing climate impacts;
Over 130 countries have signed up to COP28 UAE Declaration on Agriculture, Food, and Climate to support food security while combatting climate change; and Global Cooling Pledge has been endorsed by 66 countries to reduce cooling related emissions by 68% from today.
Ethiopia’s Dine for the Nation, Dine for Sheger, Dine for the Generation and other eco-tourism projects blend the development of tourism Ethiopia with greening the country and conserving the natural resources of the nation.
These projects are not only limited to their contribution in tourism and natural resources conservation but play an important role in promoting food security, unemployment, scientific researches on biomass and water resources of Ethiopia.
Food forests that are being developed in the context of National Green Legacy Initiative bring forth multiple benefits for food security in Ethiopia. What actually are food forests? A food forest, also known as a forest garden or a perennial polyculture, is a sustainable agro-ecosystem designed to mimic the structure and functions of a natural forest while producing a variety of food, medicinal plants, and other useful products. Food forests are characterized by diverse layers of plants, including trees, shrubs, herbs, and groundcovers, creating a self-sustaining and biodiverse environment. Here are key features and principles associated with food forests:
Food forests incorporate a wide variety of edible and non-edible plants, imitating the layers found in natural ecosystems, such as canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, vines, and groundcovers.
Food forests promote sustainable agricultural practices by reducing the need for external inputs and fostering ecological balance. By imitating natural ecosystems, food forests support biodiversity and contribute to conservation efforts.
Diverse plant species and polyculture enhance the resilience of food forests to climate variations and extreme weather events. The mix of plants in a food forest contributes to efficient nutrient cycling, reducing the reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
Once established, food forests can be relatively low-maintenance compared to traditional annual crop systems. Food forests can provide a sustainable source of diverse produce, contributing to local food security and potential income generation.
Food forests are gaining popularity as a sustainable and regenerative approach to food production, aligning with principles of permaculture and agroecology. Their design and implementation can vary based on climate, soil conditions, and local ecosystems. It must be stressed that all these projects of regional and global significance have been initiated by the leadership of the country strictly based on using local resources for national development.
On the other hand, if we take specific projects like Lemat Trufat, over the last couple of years, Ethiopia has managed to produce five billion liters of milk and three billion eggs with more potential in store for the nation. In terms of keeping the atmospheric temperature to well below 2 degree Celsius, Ethiopia can comfortably achieve this target through her carbon in a relatively shorter period of time.
Medicinal plants are also part of the forest resources of the country. Some researches indicate that the country has more than 7000 species of plants that can potentially be used as sources for herbal medicine.
When it comes to combating the effects of climate change, it is also very important to consider the most outstanding international legal instruments that were issued to protect the global flora and fauna to ensure the balance of nature across the world.
Legal protection for biodiversity resources involves a complex framework of national and international laws and regulations aimed at conserving and sustaining the diversity of life on Earth. These legal instruments address various aspects, including the protection of ecosystems, endangered species, genetic resources, and traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity. Here are some key elements of legal protection for biodiversity:
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Adopted in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the CBD is a comprehensive international treaty that addresses the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. It includes the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization.
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora): CITES is an international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. It regulates and restricts the trade of species listed in its appendices.
Ramsar Convention: The Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention, focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It addresses the interconnectedness of wetlands with biodiversity, water resources, and human well-being.
World Heritage Convention: The World Heritage Convention, adopted by UNESCO, identifies and protects cultural and natural heritage sites of outstanding value, including those with significant biodiversity. Natural sites on the World Heritage List are recognized for their unique ecological importance.
Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization: A supplementary agreement to the CBD, the Nagoya Protocol focuses on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization. Although many countries have ratified all or a number of the above mentioned conventions, the situation around the world clearly indicates that they are not properly observed.
Wildlife, nature and species in Ethiopia are preserved in protected areas. When it comes to institutions, we have the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, which manages 13 of our national parks, wildlife reserves and sanctuaries, measuring over 3.75 million hectares of natural habitat, including 1.8 million hectares of forest and woodlands. This represents almost 20% of the total remaining natural forest cover in Ethiopia. Consequently, this is one of the key initiatives to address the issue of biodiversity conservation, and our policies also support the establishment of this institution. The Ethiopian Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC), the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society, regional park authorities, and botanical and zoological gardens, which are mainly located in Addis Ababa City as well as in regional cities and universities, play an important role in this context.
The author of this contribution believes that as Ethiopia is already a leading country in the global efforts to roll back the effects of climate change, it is very important to ensure proper coordination with public and private as well as CSO organizations to maximize the outputs underway regarding the national and global efforts to reduce the dangerous effects of climate change on the livelihood humankind.
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
The Ethiopian Herald January 28/2024
