Addis Ababa, May 11, 2023 (FBC) –
Ethiopia has officially launched its “Long-Term Low Emission and Climate Resilient Strategy” (LT-LEDS) earlier today at the Friendship Square in Addis Ababa. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, high-level government officials and stakeholders have attended the event.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, in his inaugural remarks stated the fact that climate change continues to drastically affect the livelihoods of people by inducing drought and ecological imbalance, among others.
Ethiopia’s projects such as the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) and capitalizing of renewable energy sources, which Ethiopia is endowed with, are part and parcel of the climate agenda, Demeke added.
He said, through the GLI Ethiopia is conducting “Green Diplomacy” in East Africa and wants to further expand the engagement at continental level.
On the occasion, the Planning and Development Minister, Fitsum Assefa (PhD), Ethiopia has been implementing a climate resilient green economy strategy, and more than 200 climate change mitigation projects have been undertaken in the country.
She added Ethiopia and other developing countries are bearing the brunt of climate change induced phenomena such as drought despite minimal contributions.
The LT-LEDS needs the concerted efforts of stakeholders for its implementation and success and that developed countries and international partners should continue providing financial and technical support to this initiative, the minister noted.
The historic launching ceremony was attended by Ministers, Ambassadors and representatives of international entities that supported the development of this pivotal national framework that aims to bridging Ethiopia’s sustainable development net zero carbon growth and climate resilience objectives.
The long-term planning horizon of the LT-LEDS provides an opportunity to consider interactions, synergies and trade-offs between development sectoral climate goals & national development priorities.
It also provides a roadmap for long-term decarburization and climate resilient development for Ethiopia.
It is stated on the occasion that the strategy will be implemented until 2050 and is in line with the Paris Climate Agreement which was adopted in 2015.
The low carbon and climate resilient development strategy aims to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The strategy is also said to have been prepared in line with the country’s ten-year perspective development plan and other long-term development goals.