Islamabad, July 29, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has expressed keen interest in learning from the homegrown climate adaptation and resilience model implemented by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to foster a clean, green, and sustainable development pathway.
This significant dialogue took place during a meeting between H.E. Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary of Ethiopia, and H.E. Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, Federal Minister for Climate Change of Pakistan, at the Ministry of Climate Change in Islamabad.
Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula highlighted Ethiopia’s international leadership in the domains of climate action and food security, underscoring the global recognition of its homegrown approaches in environmental restoration, food self-sufficiency, urban sustainability, and soil and water conservation.
He elaborated that these initiatives are inspired by the Medemer philosophy of Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, which promotes intergenerational learning and a holistic understanding of the human-environment relationship. This philosophy instills a culture in which green values form the foundation of environmental protection.
As a prime example, the Ambassador mentioned Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, under which more than 40.5 billion seedlings—including fruit, vegetable, and fodder plants—have been planted with an 85% survival rate, resulting in a 23.6% increase in forest cover and significant gains in food self-sufficiency.
He also referenced key programs such as Yelamat Tirufat (Bounty of Basket) and Corridor Development, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to promote a climate-resilient economy.
Ambassador Dr. Jemal noted that Ethiopia is eager to share these successful initiatives with Pakistan. He remarked that the Green Legacy Initiative is already being introduced in Pakistan through partnerships with the Ministry of Climate Change and the active involvement of parliamentarians, diplomats, religious leaders, the business community, youth, and civil society.
Federal Minister Dr. Musadik Masood Malik praised Ethiopia’s notable achievements in facing multifaceted challenges and expressed admiration for its economic and environmental progress. He described Ethiopia’s accomplishments as “very impressive” and emphasized Pakistan’s interest in benefiting from Ethiopia’s experiences in ecological security and agricultural development.
Acknowledging Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, the Minister reaffirmed the country’s determination to convert this vulnerability into resilience through proactive green initiatives. He also commended Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula for his instrumental role in promoting environmental cooperation and green advocacy in Pakistan.
