Adaptation
Resilience to drought, reduced erosion, and improved water retention across restored watersheds and highland landscapes.
Climate Change Overview — Ethiopia
Scientific context, national strategies, targets, and governance for climate-resilient development in Ethiopia.
Scientific & National Context
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature and typical weather patterns. In Ethiopia, recent observations show a warming trend and increasing rainfall variability. These changes affect livelihoods and national development through impacts on water availability, agricultural productivity, and ecosystem stability.
~1°C
Mean temperature increase since the 1960s
~25%
Increase in rainfall variability
1–4%
Annual GDP loss during severe climate events
Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable because its economy and food systems depend heavily on climate-sensitive sectors. Mitigation and adaptation are not only environmental priorities — they are essential for economic survival, food security, and social stability.
Landscape Restoration
Landscape restoration in Ethiopia’s highlands is a central national response to climate vulnerability. By improving soil health, conserving biodiversity, restoring degraded lands, and strengthening watershed functions, restoration efforts help communities maintain agricultural productivity under changing climate conditions.
Given that Ethiopia’s climate-dependent agriculture supports the livelihoods of the majority of the population, restoration contributes directly to both adaptation and mitigation outcomes.
Mitigation
Enhanced carbon sequestration through improved vegetation cover, agroforestry, and expanded forest restoration programs.
Strategic Evolution (2011–2026)
Ethiopia’s climate action has evolved through major national initiatives:
Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Launch
Ethiopia launched CRGE with the objective of achieving middle-income status by 2025 while pursuing development pathways with no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
NAP-ETH
NAP-ETH is a national framework for strengthening climate adaptation planning and implementation, launched in May 2019 with 18 adaptation options to guide coordinated efforts across sectors and levels.
Green Legacy Initiative
A national restoration program that has planted more than 48 billion seedlings, with forest coverage reportedly increasing from about 17% to 23.6% toward a 30% national target.
Updated NDC 2.0
Ethiopia’s enhanced climate action plan strengthening mitigation targets, sectoral strategies, and MRV coordination mechanisms across government.
LT-LEDS
Long-term roadmap for shifting development toward low-emissions, climate-resilient pathways and aligning policies, investments, and planning with mitigation objectives.
Green Mobility Transition
Accelerating the shift to greener, low-emission transport through cleaner technologies, led by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics.
NDC 3.0
Ethiopia’s 3rd Nationally Determined Contribution, aligned with long-term development vision and strengthened climate ambition for 2025–2035.
Current Targets & Pledges
Under NDC 3.0 (2025–2035) and LT-LEDS, Ethiopia commits to the following priorities:
GHG Mitigation
70.3% reduction versus Business As Usual (BAU) by 2035
Forest Cover
Increase to 30.0% by 2030
Renewable Energy
Reach 16,058 MW installed capacity by 2030
Green Mobility
Deploy 500,000 Electric Vehicles on the road by 2033
Net-Zero Status
Full carbon neutrality targeted by 2050
Renewable Energy & Key Adaptation Sectors
Renewable Energy Focus
Ethiopia generates about 98% of its electricity from renewable sources, including hydropower, wind, and geothermal. Regional interconnection and clean energy development are central to sustaining low-carbon growth.
Key Adaptation Sectors
- Water — integrated watershed management, improved water retention, and drought risk reduction
- Agriculture — drought-resistant crops and climate-smart production systems
- Health — strengthened surveillance for climate-sensitive diseases
- Transport — resilient infrastructure planning and low-carbon mobility options
Governance for Climate Resilience
Ethiopia has established an evolving climate governance framework integrating resilience, low-emission development, and sustainable economic transformation into national planning — guided by CRGE, NAP, NDCs, and LT-LEDS.
National Institutional Framework
MoPD coordinates climate-resilient development under Proclamation No. 1263/2021, overseeing CRGE implementation, NDC coordination, climate monitoring, and strategic policy alignment. Sector ministries mainstream resilience into sectoral plans and implementation.
Coordination Mechanisms
- CRGE National Steering Committee
- CRGE Technical Team
- CRGE Unit
- CRGE Forum
- Climate governance & coordination system