Addis Ababa, February 14, 2026 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has presented Ethiopia’s flagship water and climate initiatives as practical models for advancing Africa’s sustainable development agenda, calling on the continent to treat water security and environmental stewardship as strategic foundations for prosperity and stability.
Addressing the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Prime Minister aligned his remarks with this year’s AU theme, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
Abiy underscored that water is not merely a natural resource but a driver of development, innovation, and peace. He pointed to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as an example of African-led infrastructure designed to expand energy access, power industry, and promote regional interdependence through electricity exports.
He emphasized that rivers, when governed responsibly and cooperatively, can serve as engines of shared prosperity and stability across borders.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, under which more than 48 billion tree seedlings have been planted nationwide. The initiative, he noted, is aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems, strengthening climate resilience, enhancing food security, and creating green economic opportunities.
Urban environmental renewal was also featured prominently in his address. Abiy referenced Addis Ababa’s large-scale riverside restoration projects, which have transformed polluted waterways into clean public spaces, reduced flood risks, and improved urban resilience. He described such integrated approaches as examples of how environmental stewardship can simultaneously support social cohesion and economic development.
On the continental stage, the Prime Minister recalled Ethiopia’s role in hosting the Africa Climate Summit and reiterated the need for Africa to assert its priorities in global climate negotiations. He stressed that climate action must be anchored in justice and equity, with strengthened access to finance, technology, and partnerships.
According to Abiy, Africa must move beyond vulnerability narratives and instead present itself as a source of solutions to global environmental challenges.
He further linked water management and climate stewardship to broader continental goals under Agenda 2063, emphasizing that sustainable development requires coordinated policy, infrastructure investment, and long-term vision.
The AU Summit, running from February 14–15, is expected to deliberate on water security, sanitation systems, peace and security matters, and key institutional reforms aimed at strengthening Africa’s collective development trajectory.