Addis ababa: Ethiopia’s Minister of Planning and Development, Fistum Assefa, urged participants of the Second Climate Week to take bold, practical, and impactful actions, emphasizing the importance of transforming commitments into action and ambition into tangible results on the ground. The minister made these remarks during her welcoming speech at the official opening of the event in Addis Ababa, which was attended by a high-level delegation, including Ethiopian President Taye Atskeselassie and African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the week-long event, themed “Dialogues for Ambition and Implementation,” aims to bridge the gap between global climate decisions and concrete actions on the ground. The minister addressed a diverse gathering of policymakers, business leaders, financiers, and community representatives, highlighting that the climate emergency is a current reality impacting lives, economies, and generational choices.
Minister Fistum Assefa emphasized Ethiopia’s commitment to advancing the global climate agenda and Addis Ababa’s evolving role as a hub for dialogue and action on climate challenges. She noted that Addis Ababa, already home to the African Union, is a significant venue for defining the continent’s priorities and amplifying its voice globally. The Climate Week, she explained, serves as a bridge between negotiation and implementation, where ambition aligns with action, and commitments are transformed into real solutions benefiting communities and ecosystems.
The Climate Week provides an inclusive platform for various stakeholders, including governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, and local communities. Minister Fistum highlighted Ethiopia’s efforts to address climate change challenges, guided by the Ten-Year National Development Plan and the Home-Grown Economic Reform Agenda. She mentioned initiatives such as the Green Legacy projects, expansion of clean energy, and efforts to transition cities toward sustainable development as examples of the country’s commitment to tangible climate action.
Concluding her speech, the minister called for a focus on translating commitments into action and ambition into tangible results during the Climate Week, urging participants to be bold, practical, and impactful in their endeavors.