Ethiopia joins Climate Neutral Network (CN Net)

The World Environment day was observed on June 5, 2009 under the theme: "Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change".  The UN General Assembly established the World Environment Day in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Since then, the day is annually commemorated on the 5th of June, as a principal vehicle through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness about the environment and enhances political attention and action. While this year's main event of the World Environment Day was celebrated in Mexico, similar commemorations were organized worldwide- from remote villages to sprawling capitals that has made it a truly global day.   In Ethiopia, the World Environment day was celebrated for the 16th time under the theme: "Establishing an environmental protection system to ensure sustainable development".

On this very day, Ethiopia has taken one step in this area where by it has pledged, along with two other countries, Pakistan and Portugal, to promote low-carbon, green growth by joining the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net). The three are the latest nations to join the CN Net initiatives and this brings the total number of countries that are going low-carbon or even climate neutral to ten. Ethiopia is the first African country to join the Climate Neutral Network.

Climate Neutral Network was launched on 21 February 2008. Its main objective is to assist those interested in achieving big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. It does so by making public inspiring plans and strategies that pioneering partners have drawn up in order to achieve climate neutrality. It also acts as a forum through which those who aspire to climate neutrality may network and learn more to plan their own emission reductions. Moreover, it works as a broker that brings both developed and developing countries together to green the development path and support the Millennium Development Goals. At present, the CN Net has over 100 participants, including several countries, cities, major international companies, UN agencies and leading NGOs.

As a member of the Climate Neutral Network, Ethiopia will benefit from the assistance provided for the preservation of registered environmental sites, similar to what the UNESCO provides for registered World Heritages. It would also serve as a supporting credential for the country to get the necessary funding for the promotion and development of renewable energy projects. Furthermore, the CN Net would make positive contributions to the production of low-carbon agricultural and industrial products that are known to be competitive at the international market.  On the other hand, the fact that Ethiopia has qualified to become a CN Net member would create conducive atmosphere for the protection, preservation and development of bio-diversity resources, as well as to get the support required for scientific researches in the field.