By Lalu Etalla

ANTALYA, TÜRKİYE — Ethiopia remains committed to driving global climate action through concrete homegrown initiatives, positioning the nation as an international benchmark for green growth, underscored Minister of Finance Fitsum Assefa (PhD) at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye today.

Delivering her keynote address at the pavilion, Dr. Fitsum emphasized that Ethiopia’s climate credentials carry immense global credibility because the country continues to execute ambitious adaptation strategies independently, despite its high vulnerability and the world’s failure to deliver expected climate finance support. She noted that extensive negotiations underway in Antalya will directly shape delegate participation and investment flows for next year’s major climate gathering in Addis Ababa.

"Our goal is not merely to make people eager to visit Ethiopia," Dr. Fitsum stated. "More importantly, within the framework of our negotiations, we are ensuring that the influx of international investments matches the scale of the climate resilience and adaptation work we are implementing on the ground."

The Minister highlighted key pillars of Ethiopia’s climate achievements that have earned admiration from the international community, namely the Green Legacy Initiative, renewable energy dominance, and sustainable mobility and urban growth.

She stated that the international community’s eagerness to gather in Ethiopia next year reflects widespread recognition of these achievements, adding that the negotiations at COP31 will further solidify and ground the country's strategic partnerships.