Addis Ababa, November 12, 2026 (FMC) – Ethiopia has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing global forest and climate action, showcasing the achievements of its Green Legacy Initiative, which has seen more than 56 billion seedlings planted since 2019, while underscoring the need for stronger international cooperation to reverse deforestation by 2030.
The commitment was reaffirmed by National Strategy Minister Bereket Fesehatsion at the COP31 Leaders’ Event on “Forests and Climate Action: The Contribution of Forests to Addressing Climate Change” in Antalya, Türkiye.
In his remarks, Bereket highlighted the transformative impact of the Green Legacy Initiative and underscored the vital contribution of forests to climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods and green job creation.
Ethiopia also emphasised the importance of stronger international partnerships, increased investment and collective action to accelerate forest landscape restoration and achieve the 2030 goal of halting and reversing deforestation.
As the incoming host of COP32, Ethiopia is placing forest restoration and climate action among the priorities of its engagement in global climate cooperation.