Addis Ababa, October 13, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 74.3 percent by 2030 compared with a business-as-usual scenario, as the country expands renewable energy, restores degraded landscapes, and advances climate-resilient development.
Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Itefa announced the commitment while addressing the 65th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which opened in Addis Ababa on October 12.
He said Ethiopia was pursuing the ambitious target through a range of measures, including renewable energy development, large-scale tree planting, and the restoration of degraded land.
“Throughout national and international contribution, Ethiopia has committed to highly ambitious 74.3 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, relative to the business-as-usual scenario,” the minister said.
Habtamu noted that Ethiopia was already facing severe climate-related impacts, including erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts, and devastating floods.
“Ethiopia is living in the front lines of the global climate crisis,” he said, adding that human-induced climate change had significantly disrupted the country’s natural balance.
Shifting rainfall patterns and increasingly frequent extreme weather events are affecting agriculture, water availability, and energy production, he explained. Recurrent droughts, he added, have resulted in crop failures and livestock losses.
The minister stressed that Ethiopia was taking concrete action to address these challenges, with its Climate-Resilient Green Economy strategy serving as a cornerstone of national policy.
He highlighted the country’s expanding renewable energy capacity, particularly through hydropower, wind, and solar power, as well as efforts to extend clean electricity supplies to neighboring countries in support of Africa’s energy transition.
The Green Legacy Initiative was also cited as a key component of Ethiopia’s climate action, contributing to forest expansion and the restoration of degraded landscapes.
“I am incredibly proud to share that to date, we have planted more than 56 billion trees across the country,” Habtamu said.
He added that Ethiopia’s forest cover had increased from 17.2 percent to 23.6 percent.
The initiative, he emphasized, extends beyond tree planting to encompass the restoration of degraded water bodies, improvements in soil fertility, and efforts to enhance people’s livelihoods.
Habtamu also underscored the importance of scientific evidence in shaping Ethiopia’s climate ambitions, pointing to the country’s engagement with the IPCC and its use of the panel’s methodologies in preparing national greenhouse gas inventories.
He called for IPCC findings to inform national development strategies and strengthen climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
IPCC Chair Jim Skea commended the Ethiopian government and the Addis Ababa city administration for their preparations to host the session, expressing appreciation for their welcome and hospitality.
He also acknowledged Ethiopia’s support for the IPCC’s scientific work, expressing pride in the participation of Ethiopian scientists in all three working group contributions to the panel’s second assessment report.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Meteorological Institute Director General Fetene Teshome highlighted the disproportionate burden of climate change on Africa, noting that the continent contributes the least to global greenhouse gas emissions while remaining among the regions most vulnerable to climate variability and change.
He stressed the urgent need for stronger adaptation measures, enhanced resilience, and wider access to climate services to support informed decision-making at all levels.
Fetene described the IPCC’s work as indispensable, noting that its scientific assessments provide governments, development partners, researchers, and communities with a foundation for understanding climate risks and identifying effective responses.
He added that the credibility, transparency, and rigor of the IPCC assessment process continue to guide global climate action and strengthen confidence in climate science, ENA reported.