Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative has planted over 56 billion tree seedlings across the country over the past eight years, Press Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister Billene Seyoum announced during a briefing in Addis Ababa on Friday.
Preparations for COP32 in Addis Ababa
The national afforestation campaign serves as a cornerstone of the country’s domestic environmental policy as Ethiopia prepares to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP32, in November 2027. Ethiopia formally opened its national pavilion at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, launching a 12-day diplomatic campaign under the theme “From Antalya to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is ready to welcome the world.”
The pavilion was inaugurated by Dr. Gedion Timothewos, Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP32 President-Designate, alongside Dr. Fitsum Assefa, Minister of Finance and COP32 Chief Negotiator, while Minister of Innovation and Technology Frehiwot Tamru and international diplomats were also present.
The space functions as the operational headquarters for the incoming presidency as delegates conduct bilateral meetings with the current COP31 Presidency, international negotiating blocs, and global financial institutions to build early consensus.
Hosting tens of thousands of global leaders, negotiators, and clean-energy investors, Addis Ababa anticipates welcoming participants as both the diplomatic capital of Africa and the headquarters of the African Union.
Economic Policy and Renewable Energy Expansion
During the COP31 Leaders’ Summit, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized that the nation integrates environmental stewardship directly into its economic framework. “In Ethiopia, climate action is economic policy,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said during his address at the Antalya Expo Centre, where he also expressed gratitude to the government and people of Turkey for their warm welcome and thanked Australia for steering critical climate negotiations.
The Prime Minister said that more than 90 percent of the nation’s electricity originates from water resources, supporting both domestic consumption and regional power supply while rainfall sustains local coffee production. Billene added that expanding investments in hydropower, wind, and solar energy continue to strengthen the country’s renewable energy mix.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) increases the country's electricity generation capacity and is a centerpiece of the Ethiopian Pavilion during COP31. The Government of Ethiopia also secured $13.1 billion in investment agreements at the Invest in Ethiopia 2026 forum with international partners spanning renewable energy, mining, and green ammonia.
Global Calls for Accountability and Climate Finance
Addressing world leaders in Türkiye, Abiy pressed major industrial emitters to accelerate their reduction targets. “Those with the greatest responsibility and the means to act must lead with deeper cuts this decade,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said ahead of the transition to next year’s summit.
At the national level, Ethiopia enacted a ban on fossil-fuel-powered vehicles starting in 2024 to curb carbon emissions and promote electric transportation. The government has also completed 821 kilometers of green urban corridors and electric-vehicle infrastructure in Addis Ababa alongside an additional 1,200 kilometers nationwide.
In addition to climate initiatives, visitors to the Ethiopian pavilion at COP31 have been welcomed with freshly prepared coffee, alongside traditional stools and utensils, giving attendees a preview of what awaits participants when the summit convenes in Addis Ababa.
Press Billene Seyoum emphasized that the success of the Green Legacy Initiative relies not only on the number of seedlings planted but on their continued care, survival, and broader public participation to ensure lasting environmental benefits across diverse ecological zones.
The wider African presence at COP31 has also brought focus to critical minerals, trade institutions, and development priorities, alongside discussions on adaptation financing and the resources required to support national climate plans.