Addis Ababa, August 17, 2023 (Addis Walta) The 19th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) kicked off today at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa.
During the morning opening session remarks at the Conference, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, said that the challenges related to climate change and environmental degradation are compromising the objectives to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
He added that Africa needs to work closely with international partners to create a safer and more sustainable future.
He also underscored the fact that standing together in matters of climate change and sustainable development is a global responsibility, and he commended the African Group of Negotiators for their coordination of African common positions in climate and environmental negotiations.
Speaking on national imperatives in this regard, Demeke noted that Green Legacy Initiative and a long-term climate-resilient economic strategy are key tools for combatting the adverse effects of climate change and realizing the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 in the country.
Concluding his remarks, he reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to supporting initiatives that seek to address environmental challenges. He also stressed the fact that only through enhanced global partnership humanity can effectively achieve a sustainable solution, according to the MFA of Ethiopia.
The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), a platform that plays a key role in shaping Africa’s response to pressing challenges relating to climate change, sustainable development, and the environment; is a platform for collective endeavors to action.