More than just a national commitment, Ethiopia’s climate advocacy shines a worldwide light on the necessity of environmental care. Ethiopia is a country in East Africa with various landscapes, yet its dedication to climate awareness is felt much beyond its boundaries. Ethiopia serves as an example of the transforming power of proactive environmental policy and sustainable practices in a world where the effects of climate change are becoming more and more apparent.
Ethiopia should actively promote climate change policy because of the country’s deteriorated pasture and agricultural areas, mismanaged water resources, and increased levels of poverty, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and violence. One of the nations most susceptible to climate change is Ethiopia. This is due in part to the nation’s propensity for floods and droughts as well as the fact that 80–85% of Ethiopians make their living from pastoralism and agriculture.
The effects of each subsequent drought and flood worsen, particularly in terms of poverty, hunger, and livelihoods since those who are most disadvantaged must overcome increasingly formidable obstacles in order to catch up. A total of 4.5 million Ethiopians were in need of food aid in 2011 due to the Horn of Africa drought.
Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of El Niño and La Niña, so drought is particularly harmful here. In 2015, the country saw two consecutive failed rainy seasons, with some regions experiencing the lowest average rainfall in 55 years. This weather crisis was made worse by the El Niño phenomenon, which is a warming of the central to eastern tropical Pacific that happens every two to seven years.
The El Niño that struck in 2015–16, which affected 60 million people worldwide, was ranked as one of the three strongest events ever recorded by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Among them, 9.7 million were Ethiopians. With this, climate advocacy in Ethiopia became paramount.
Climate advocacy in Ethiopia
Ethiopia, one of the most vulnerable states, has only responded proactively to climate change at the national and international levels up until COP15. Although Ethiopia has traditionally participated in international discussions, it wasn’t until recently that it increased its involvement and assumed a leadership role in the African group at the Copenhagen negotiations (COP 15).
There has been steadfast advocacy for climate in Ethiopia ever since, and the effects of this movement have rippled well beyond its boundaries, leaving a lasting impression on the world community’s attempts to confront this existential problem. Ethiopia has been a global inspiration for the world thanks to its pioneering efforts, which range from large-scale reforestation projects to creative agriculture techniques.
Reforestation initiatives, such as the Green Legacy initiative, are one example of climate advocacy in Ethiopia. They highlight the possibility of scalable, naturally occurring solutions and make a substantial contribution to the global carbon sequestration targets.
Furthermore, Ethiopia’s achievements in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy provide a model for other countries tackling the dual problems of food supply and energy security in the face of climate change. Ethiopia is looked upon by the international world as a pioneer in applying workable solutions as well as a champion for elevating the voices of the voiceless and highlighting the pressing need for climate justice.
Ethiopia’s advocacy is resonant in international forums since it emphasizes the interconnection of nations in the face of a shared environmental problem and calls for collective action. Given that the effects of climate change are global in nature, the country’s active involvement in COP meetings and other international forums shows a commitment to adopting policies that go beyond national concerns.
Ethiopia is a shining example of the transforming impact of proactive environmental policy, as it leads the way in climate activism through the integration of reforestation, renewable energy, and community resilience. Climate advocacy in Ethiopia has had a significant worldwide influence, demonstrating that every country, regardless of size, can make a meaningful contribution to the global effort to combat climate change and ensure future generations have a sustainable and resilient future.
