Ethiopian Planning and Development Minister Fisum Assefa Adela (Ph.D.)
By Mekonnen Teshome
Addis Ababa (November 5, 2022) – Ethiopian Planning and Development Minister Fisum Assefa Adela (Ph.D.), leading her COP27 delegation, today heads to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt with a strong conviction of passing Ethiopia’s lessons of its successful “Green Legacy Initiative” to the world at the global conference.
According to the information this writer obtained from the Ministry of Planning and Development (MoPD), the thriving Green Legacy Initiative of the country, with other sectoral policies, is one of the crucial policy interventions of the country that envisions its transition to low carbon economic development.
As part of the 2050 Pathways Platform that defines the Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) of the Paris Agreement, Ethiopia has designed its Net Zero and Climate Resilient Development Strategy with a Scenario Maximum Ambition reforestation rate of 8.2 million hectares.
Before leaving to Sharm El-Sheikh yesterday, the Minister indicated that her delegation will make efforts to share the world about the Green Legacy Initiative at the Conference.
The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations describes Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI): “Rooted in a vision of building a green and climate-resilient Ethiopia, the Green Legacy Initiative was launched in June 2019. A target of planting 20 billion seedlings within a period of four years was set. By the fourth year, Ethiopia has succeeded in planting 25 billion seedlings by mobilizing more than 20 million citizens throughout the nation. The development of more than 120,000 nurseries throughout the country has enabled the creation of more than 767,000 jobs, mostly for women and youth.”
The Planning and Development Minister, Fisum Assefa, also indicated that the Ethiopian delegation to the COP27 would not only display the country’s World Record tree planting initiative but also its note worthy environmental protection, the building of climate resilient green economy and its impressive renewable energy experiences.
Many other experts in the area also believe the same that Ethiopia has a lot to share for others and the Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative is one among others.
General Coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Mr. Million Belay is one of the experts who feel the same. He says: “I think Ethiopia should share its experience, like the Green Legacy Initiative, to the world. It should also adapt agroecology as the best adaptation mechanism because of agriculture.”
As to Mr. Million, Ethiopia’s agricultural policy that promotes organic farming activities and its significant results achieved over the last decade is also a case in point to show case as best practice.
Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, recently also described the Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative as a stepping stone to a better future for Ethiopia.
UNDP has also set a plan to share Ethiopia’s experiences with about 10 other countries and make the Green Legacy initiative a pan-African issue .
Mr. Gashaw Abate, an Ethiopian Environment scholar says that advanced western countries have promised to commit 100 billion USD for the global climate change mitigation efforts but the promise has not been fulfilled so far. But, the countries need to acknowledge the huge reforestation activities of Ethiopia and endeavors of other African countries made towards climate change adaptation and mitigation and fulfill their promises and the Least Developed Countries (LDC) have to make a coordinated effort to realized this.
The expert also indicated that the experience of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative has shown the importance of leadership's commitment in public mobilization in planning, funding and executing programs on climate change. Others are also expected to draw lessons from this successful greening activity of Ethiopia.