WMO Africa chief commends ‘exemplary’ Green Legacy in combating climate change

Addis Ababa, June 23, 2024 (FBC) – 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 stated 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 in a sustainable manner.

“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 a number of 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, ENA reported.

The green legacy program is instrumental in preventing climate change and maintaining a sustainable ecosystem as Ethiopia’s forest coverage has reached 23.6 percent recently, according to Ethiopian Forest Development.