Addis Ababa, April 28, 2026 (FMC) – The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Claver Gatete, has lauded Ethiopia for its significant progress in green development, renewable energy expansion, and climate-smart agriculture, highlighting the country’s role in advancing Africa’s sustainable development and climate agenda.
Opening the Twelfth Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Addis Ababa, Gatete commended Ethiopia’s leadership in environmental restoration and low-carbon development pathways, particularly in the context of growing global climate challenges.
He specifically cited Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative as one of the largest reforestation efforts globally, under which more than 48 billion tree seedlings have reportedly been planted, describing it as a flagship example of large-scale environmental action.
The UNECA Executive Secretary also praised Ethiopia’s energy transition, noting that more than 95 percent of the country’s electricity generation comes from renewable sources, positioning Ethiopia as a continental leader in clean energy development.
In addition, he highlighted Ethiopia’s expansion of climate-smart agriculture, covering nearly 18 million hectares of rain-fed cropland, underscoring its importance in strengthening food security, resilience, and sustainable rural development.
Gatete further emphasized that Ethiopia’s climate actions demonstrate how environmental protection and economic development can advance together, stating that for countries like Ethiopia, climate action is not a competing priority but a core development pathway.
He also noted Ethiopia’s readiness to host COP32, describing it as a major responsibility at a critical moment for global climate cooperation. He said Ethiopia is uniquely positioned for this role, given its track record in sustainable development and environmental initiatives.
Beyond Ethiopia-specific remarks, Gatete called on African countries to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063, warning that progress is being constrained by financing gaps, infrastructure deficits, and slow implementation.
He stressed that Africa must shift from frameworks to execution, particularly in key sectors such as water, energy, infrastructure, and urban development, which he described as the productive foundation of economic transformation.
“If energy access is improving, but reliability is not, if cities are expanding, but jobs are not, are we truly on a transformation path?” he asked, urging a shift toward system-wide approaches and large-scale delivery.
The forum continues discussions on strengthening implementation of sustainable development priorities across Africa, with participation from governments, international organizations, civil society, and development partners.