Ethiopia and Denmark Discuss Enhanced Environmental Collaboration

Addis ababa: Minister of Planning and Development Fitsum Assefa and Danish Ambassador to Ethiopia, Sune Krogstrup, recently held discussions focused on increasing Denmark's support for Ethiopia in critical areas such as climate change, energy, and water management.According to Ethiopian News Agency, the discussions revealed Denmark's commitment to intensify its engagement under a new program designed to support Ethiopia's environmental protection efforts. Ambassador Krogstrup highlighted the expanded support which now includes energy and water, in addition to addressing broader climate change impacts.Minister Assefa expressed Ethiopia's interest in broadening this support to prioritize sectors such as agriculture, particularly livestock, noting the significant role these areas play in Ethiopia's economy. He emphasized the importance of enhancing access to energy as a pivotal element of the energy sector, urging development partners to consolidate their efforts for greater impact.On water management, Min ister Assefa underscored the importance of improving water supply systems across Ethiopia, with a strong focus on climate resilience in the sector. Both parties discussed the importance of integrating these efforts to avoid fragmentation in their approach.The meeting also touched on future collaborations, with the two parties exploring the potential for a Memorandum of Understanding or Declaration to officially document their cooperative efforts. Such an agreement would be signed by ministers from the respective sectors and witnessed by the prime ministers of both nations.Moreover, the Danish side extended an invitation to Ethiopia for a Danish-sponsored side event at the upcoming Group of Negative Emitters (GONE) conference, where Ethiopia is expected to announce its membership, aligning with its ambitious climate action plans.The discussions concluded with an agreement on the importance of incorporating national priorities and climate considerations across all phases of program planning and implementa tion, ensuring a holistic approach to environmental and developmental challenges.