Source: CONSTANT DANIMBE (TRACE INFOS, Sept 2025)

At the opening of the Second African Climate Summit (ACS2), Ethiopia’s Prime Minister delivered an ambitious speech, placing Africa at the heart of global climate solutions and calling for a sustainable transformation of its economies and territories.

Addressing the heads of state, ministers and diplomats in attendance, the Prime Minister emphasized the continent’s potential: a young and creative population, vast agricultural land, carbon-rich forests and wetlands, mineral resources for green technologies and sunshine conducive to renewable energies.

“Too often, Africa is presented at these summits by what it lacks. Let’s start with what we have,” he declared. In his view, these assets offer Africa the opportunity to industrialize without destroying its ecosystems, and to become a world leader in a green economy.

The Prime Minister presented several national programs illustrating this vision:

  • Green Legacy Initiative: more than 48 billion trees planted since 2019, to restore soils, protect watersheds and create jobs.
  • Yelemat Tirufat (“Bounty of the Basket”) and Climate-Resilient Wheat Initiative: programs aimed at transforming food systems, reducing imports and increasing rural incomes through climate-smart agricultural practices.
  • Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: soon to be inaugurated, it will provide 5,000 megawatts of renewable energy for Ethiopia and East Africa.
  • National Clean Cooking Roadmap: initiative to reduce domestic smoke and lighten the daily lives of millions of households, especially women.
  • Green, Inclusive and Smart Cities Initiative: building sustainable cities, with bicycle paths, electric mobility and a gradual reduction in fossil fuels.

 

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