Addis Ababa, April 3, 2025 (FMC) — An Ethiopian delegation led by the Director General of the Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Engineer Lelise Neme, is taking part in the 11th BRICS Environmental High -Level Senior Officials Meeting in Brasilia, Brazil.
On the occasion, Engineer Lelise reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate resilience.
She also underscored the urgent need for BRICS countries’ coordinated actions to address environmental challenges such as pollution prevention, ecosystem conservation and restoration, climate adaptation and sustainable resources management while fostering inclusive and sustainable development and economic growth.
The Director General highlighted Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s key initiatives, including the Green Legacy Initiative, which has planted nearly 40 billion trees since 2019 to restore landscapes and biodiversity. Other projects include the Riverside Development Project for river conservation and pollution control, the Corridor Development Project integrating green infrastructure, waste management and tourism into urban plsnning, and the Eco-Tourism Development initiative promoting responsible tourism and ecosystem restoration.
She also noted Ethiopia’s major environmental policy updates, including the National Circular Economy Roadmap for job creation and waste management, the Solid Waste Management Proclamation to phase out single-use plastics, and the Ecosystem Payment for Services Proclamation to incentivize conservation.
Engineer Lelise further called for enhanced partnerships and collaboration among BRICS members and partners in areas such as knowledge exchange, green technology transfer, and financial mobilization to advance global environmental goals.