Addis Ababa, March 2, 2026 (FMC) — The Ministry of Planning and Development has warned that the triple environmental crisis—comprising climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution—poses escalating risks to regional stability and food security across Eastern Africa.
State Minister of Planning and Development Seyoum Mekonnen stated that the convergence of these environmental challenges is undermining economic development and intensifying humanitarian and ecological pressures in the region.
Speaking at the opening of a four-day Global Environment Facility (GEF) Expanded Constituency Workshop in Addis Ababa, the State Minister emphasized that environmental protection must be integrated into core development strategies.
“Environmental protection is no longer a secondary agenda but the frontline of our survival and the foundation of our future prosperity,” he said.
He noted that Eastern Africa is confronting erratic weather patterns, prolonged droughts and accelerating ecosystem degradation. These conditions, he stated, are displacing communities, straining livelihoods and increasing pressure on national economies.
Seyoum underscored Ethiopia’s commitment to aligning climate action with sustainable development. He highlighted flagship initiatives such as the Green Legacy Initiative, which has planted billions of seedlings over recent years, and major renewable energy investments including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as components of the country’s environmental and development strategy.
Additional measures include large-scale urban corridor development programs, sustainable food system reforms under the YeLemat Tirufat initiative and restrictions on imports of fossil fuel-based passenger vehicles to advance electric mobility and emission reduction objectives.
Recalling Ethiopia’s role in regional climate diplomacy, the State Minister noted that Addis Ababa hosted the Second Africa Climate Summit in 2025, which produced the Addis Ababa Declaration and signaled a shift toward solution-oriented environmental leadership in Africa.
He added that Ethiopia’s selection as host of COP32 in 2027 reflects the country’s expanding role in global environmental governance and climate action.
Despite ongoing initiatives, Seyoum cautioned that international climate and environmental finance remains insufficient relative to the scale of challenges facing developing nations. While acknowledging the contribution of the Global Environment Facility—an international mechanism supporting environmental programs—he called for faster approval processes and increased financial flows to developing countries.
“For Eastern Africa, environmental financing must unlock transformative change,” he stated, urging participants to enhance access to funding, prioritize country-driven and results-oriented projects and strengthen regional partnerships to address shared ecological threats.
GEF Africa Coordinator Jonky Tenou observed that Eastern Africa, while rich in environmental resources and resilience, faces interconnected challenges including climate variability, biodiversity loss, land degradation and pollution—many of which transcend national borders.
The workshop, he noted, aims to strengthen regional engagement within the GEF partnership framework and improve strategic coordination to confront environmental risks.
He highlighted the role of climate finance mechanisms supporting adaptation and low-emission development initiatives across Africa. One financing window prioritizes climate adaptation in least developed countries, while a separate mechanism supports transitions toward low-emission economic growth.
Together, these mechanisms form a central pillar of environmental finance efforts on the continent, as reported by local news agency ENA. Jonky Tenou noted that Ethiopia is among the countries demonstrating effective utilization of such resources, with ongoing projects advancing adaptation measures and sustainable development objectives through coordinated government and international partnerships.