Addis Ababa: The Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) delegates and UNECA climate experts have described Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative as a commendable example of climate action developing countries should emulate.
The Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) is a body under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN process for negotiating an agreement to limit dangerous climate change.
Delegates of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, which have been convening a meeting about climate issues in Addis Ababa, and some UNECA climate experts have planted saplings at the UNECA compound yesterday.
The Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) Chair, Gabriel Kapaka told ENA that Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative is an impressive climate action that other developing countries should emulate.
Recall that Ethiopia has been planting 32.5 billion saplings since 2019 and will add 7.5 billion seedlings this rainy season by planting 600 million saplings in a s
ingle day tomorrow.
‘It’s very much impressive, at least for us, to learn that Ethiopia is planting 600 million trees. That is huge because afforestation is one of climate actions that is very key. So being part of this process in Ethiopia is very good and we are happy that we planted these. Other LDC countries should come on board because it is a good worth emulating initiative.’
Kapaka also emphasized the initiative’s symbolic importance, highlighting the government’s leadership and the active participation of millions of citizens.
The action is very symbolic because you have the government taking the lead and then citizens take the lead, he added.
The LEG chair stressed that other African countries have to emulate this, adding that there are of course certain countries in Africa that are part of this planting initiative.
UN Economic Commission for Africa Senior Environmental Affairs Officer, Linus Mofor noted that the Green Legacy Initiative contributes to combat effects of climate change and ensure f
ood security.
‘The Ethiopian Green legacy Initiative is a very good example of how you adapt to build resilience while contributing to mitigation, reducing emission by captured emissions,’ he said.
According to Mofor, the African climate policy center of the ECA supports the Green Legacy Initiative in order to enhance the resilience of hydropower systems because Ethiopia is very green in its power generation systems.
The senior officer pointed out that Ethiopia should also intensify planting fruit tree saplings to benefit the people, especially the youth and women.
Mofor believes that the Green Legacy can be scaled up and replicated in other countries through a collaborative work of Ethiopia with partners.
Ethiopia is always a good example of national determination and comprehensive climate change action, the senior expert noted.
‘We look forward to working with Ethiopia for the LDCs to take them also to other countries that are keen. Our members are keen to do this so that they can also learn from Ethi
opia how it was done, and I think it will be a wonderful time when many countries across Africa have been able to replicate this and also take it further as a way of leading the action that they need to build adaptation and resilience.’
Furthermore, the senior officer called on developed countries to cut emission as least developed countries are at the forefront of suffering from the impacts of climate change.
‘We cannot continue globally with the lackluster ambition. We really need all countries, particularly developed countries, to make more efforts to cut emissions, because without cutting emissions the impacts of climate change will continue, and when the impact of climate change continues the least developed countries are the ones that are going to be suffering.’
A study conducted by UNECA, UNEP, and the African Development Bank has shown that African countries are losing 5 percent of their GDP a year on average because of climate change, Mofor elaborated.
According to him, this amount of money shoul
d have gone to socio-economic development.
‘We cannot have this kind of countries with limited budgets being impacted at such a level. We need to take the global drive for developed countries to increase their efforts and ambition to reduce emissions, while it’s also encouraging least developed countries to take opportunities that they can have in terms of developing long-term low emission development strategies, having national development, nationally determined climate contributions in ways that can build economies.’
For him, developing countries should take developed countries commitment for climate financing very seriously.
Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative serves as a powerful example of how developing countries can take proactive steps to combat climate change and build a sustainable future.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency