Ethiopia commits to building climate-friendly, resilient cities

Addis Ababa, December 6, 2023 (FBC) – The Government of Ethiopia has reaffirmed its commitment to building climate-friendly and resilient cities at the Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change at COP28.

Chaltu Sani Ibrahim, Minister of Urban and Infrastructure, underscored that Ethiopia is undergoing rapid urbanization and is facing the onslaught of the climate crisis. She said that cities are centers of economic growth but are facing the challenges of extreme and slow-onset events that have compromised urban infrastructure.

Ms. Chaltu said that her country is committed to overcoming these challenges by promoting urban cooling, sustainable buildings, transport systems, and construction.

She also said that Ethiopia is working with development partners to strengthen the regulatory and legal framework and institutional coordination mechanisms to integrate these initiatives within urban systems.

The Minister also highlighted the Green Legacy Initiative which is spearheaded by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. She reminded that her country has planted a staggering 32.5 billion tree seedlings both in urban and rural areas. Chaltu noted that this initiative is making cities better and is a nature-based solution that stores carbon, reduces energy use, and protects from extreme weather events.

Finally, Chaltu Sani called on international development partners to enhance their cooperation in the realization of the Urbanization and Climate Change Agenda in Africa and in Ethiopia, in particular.

The Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change was held on the sidelines of COP28 (the United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Dubai, UAE. The meeting brought together ministers, government officials, and experts from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities of urbanization in the context of climate change.

It is stated that urbanization is a major driver of climate change, but it can also be a part of the solution.

Cities need to be more resilient to climate change impacts, such as extreme weather events and sea level rise. International cooperation is essential to address the challenges of urbanization and climate change.

The Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change was a valuable opportunity for sharing knowledge and best practices on how to build climate-friendly and resilient cities. The meeting also helped to raise awareness of the importance of urbanization in the context of climate change.