Green diplomacy has taken center stage recently and it remains to be a top global priority as the impacts of climate change severely being felt across the planet.
Albeit too late, the world has realized that climate change is real and that everyone is experiencing its effects on a profound level. Ironically, those biggest polluters have done little while developing nations that have little to do with climate change have become the hard-hit nations.
These days, the urgent global issue is brought up at practically every meeting and is one of the topics on which opposing nations may agree. For example, despite simmering difficulties in some areas, China and the US have been looking for ways to collaborate on climate change.
Because all nations share the same planet and are equally impacted by the global issue, green diplomacy has already emerged as a necessity for the entire globe.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that all countries, big and small, are struggling to deal with the escalating environmental crisis. Despite not being immune to the effects of climate change and making minimal contributions to the global issue, states like Ethiopia have so far gotten much rhetoric but few measures from the leading carbon emitter nations, which is in contrast to their stance as the world’s biggest polluters.
Given the severe natural disasters that climate change causes, there is a growing call for further involvement. The world has suffered greatly as a result of the issue, not to mention the continuous high heat wave that is developing in Europe and other regions. The world still constantly fears natural calamities, such as droughts and floods.
Despite all the challenges, Ethiopia has taken the lead in combating climate change and advocating for environmentally friendly initiatives. For many years, the country has been actively participating in large-scale tree-planting campaigns, leading by example for Africa on international fora about the worldwide situation.
The program is a part of the Green Legacy Initiative, which Abiy Ahmed (PhD) is supporting to meet national environmental green targets and arrest the effects of deforestation and climate change on the nation. Its emblem project is also having a domino effect in East African countries. In 2021, the country had a plan to distribute one billion seedlings to East African countries including Eritrea, Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, and Sudan.
For the past five years, Ethiopia has diligently pursued an annual planting program under the Green Legacy Initiative, initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2019.
During the Green Legacy pre-launch program held at the Office of the Prime Minister last week, Ethiopia’s Forest Cover report was launched, followed by the premiere of an international documentary film that captures the essence and impact of this significant national initiative through human stories.
Ethiopia’s forest cover report had increased to 23.6% by 2023 from 17.2% in 2019, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed revealed, emphasizing the need to continue building on this progress.
“Today, we mark the beginning of the 2024 planting cycle, reflecting collectively on the impact of our efforts over the past five years,” according to the Office of the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, the premier wrote on his social media account stating that a paradigm and mindset shift is needed for the change we want to see in our Green Legacy endeavors.
Our goal for this year is to reach 40 billion seedlings from our overall target of 50 billion, which means we need to collectively plant 7.5 billion seedlings this planting cycle, Abiy added.
For anyone who wants to leave a legacy for future generations, we must invest in the future today, Prime Minister Abiy stressed.
Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative has been becoming a critical demonstration in the endeavors of withstanding climate change impacts, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Director for the Regional Office for Africa (RAF), Agnes Kijazi said.
Kijazi told ENA that, climate change is a global threat as African countries are being tested severely.
Regarding Ethiopia’s continued efforts in the Green Legacy program, the Director underscored the Green Legacy initiative is resulting in a remarkable outcome to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Noting that Ethiopia’s green legacy development is a clear manifestation of resisting the climate-induced impacts, she stressed the need for global collaboration to resolve the problem sustainably.
“I would like to appreciate and congratulate the government of Ethiopia for this action of planting trees. The more trees you have, the more carbon you will take from the atmosphere.
Ethiopia is doing a very good job in planting these trees and we encourage other members in Africa to do the same. We have several countries that are planting trees but they can also learn how Ethiopia is doing.”
The Director stated the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Office for Africa is supporting countries in the continent to develop a strong early warning system.
“For Africa, What we are doing now as WMO to support members in Africa is to make sure that we have very good early warning services. Having early warning services is a way to adapt for people to know that disaster is coming. So, we are enhancing early warning services as part of adaptation to these challenges of climate change.”
Ethiopian Meteorology Institute (EMI) Director General, Fetene Teshome noted the green legacy program is being carried out with special attention as it is a developmental framework that enables mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The green legacy program is instrumental in preventing climate change and maintaining a sustainable ecosystem as Ethiopia’s forest coverage has reached 23.6% recently, according to Ethiopian Forest Development.
Taking note of the extreme natural disasters that are triggered by climate change, the uproar for more intervention is getting laud. The problem has taken a big toll on the planet least to mention the ongoing high heat weave unfolding in Europe and elsewhere. The world continues to live in constant fear of natural disasters, from flooding to drought.
Against the odds, Ethiopia has led the fight against climate change and is a promoter of green projects. The nation has been actively involved in extensive tree-planting programs for many years, setting the example for Africa on international platforms regarding the global crisis.
The nation allows a sizable sum each year from its coffers for plantation and afforestation. Additionally, the government has already made green initiatives a high priority and an integral part of the economy. The nation has increased its efforts to plant billions of seedlings as part of ongoing green legacy programs over the years.
In actuality, Africa is one of the continents severely affected by the effects of climate change, including drought and other natural disasters. To address them, nations must have the political will and work together, which Ethiopia has been doing for quite some time. Ethiopians have been planting billions of seedlings over the past four years, exhibiting its excellent climate-resilient endeavor.
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 25 JUNE 2024
