Green Legacy Key to Ethiopia’s Sovereignty, Prosperity and Future Generations: PM Abiy

Addis Ababa, June 16, 2026 (FMC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has described Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative as a strategic national undertaking that safeguards the country’s sovereignty, advances sustainable development, and lays the foundation for a more prosperous future for generations to come.

Speaking at the official launch of the 2026 Green Legacy planting season in Bishoftu, the Prime Minister said the initiative has evolved far beyond a tree-planting campaign, becoming a comprehensive national movement that integrates environmental restoration, food security, economic resilience, and long-term development.

Abiy stressed that national sovereignty extends beyond the protection of territorial borders, arguing that it is equally measured by a country’s ability to preserve its natural resources, restore degraded landscapes, and utilize its wealth sustainably for the benefit of its people.

He noted that Ethiopia has paid a heavy price over the years through land degradation and environmental decline, emphasizing that the Green Legacy Initiative is reversing that trend by restoring ecosystems, protecting watersheds, reducing soil erosion, and safeguarding the country’s natural assets.

The Prime Minister said the initiative is also strengthening Ethiopia’s drive toward food security through the introduction and expansion of diverse fruit varieties while creating employment opportunities across seedling production, nursery development, beekeeping, livestock production, and other environmentally linked economic activities.

Reflecting on the significance of this year’s theme, “Planting Hope,” Abiy said it embodies the responsibility of today’s generation to shape a brighter future by nurturing the roots of prosperity through sustained environmental stewardship.

Drawing a historical parallel, the Prime Minister said just as previous generations defended Ethiopia’s sovereignty on the battlefield during the Battle of Adwa, the present generation is entrusted with defending the nation’s future by restoring its land, protecting its environment, and leaving behind a lasting green legacy.

He described the initiative as one of the country’s most important development pillars, saying it is helping protect productive land from degradation, reduce sedimentation, conserve water resources, and build a more resilient and prosperous Ethiopia.

The Prime Minister called on all Ethiopians to build on the achievements recorded under the Green Legacy Initiative and intensify their participation in this year’s campaign to ensure that future generations inherit a greener, more prosperous, and more resilient nation.