Climate crisis needs solutions, not conferences – Shettima

By Kunle Sanni

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged global leaders to move beyond rhetoric and embrace practical, country-specific solutions to tackle climate change, warning that the crisis cannot be solved through conferences alone.

Shettima made the call on Friday while delivering a keynote address at the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) in Addis Ababa, describing the programme as a bold and visionary step against environmental degradation.

The Green Legacy Initiative, spearheaded by the Ethiopian government, aims to plant 20 billion tree seedlings over four years to curb deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and create green jobs. The project has already established over 20,000 nurseries and employed hundreds of thousands of people.

“The promise of GLI is the dream of every nation. It is a lesson in vision, purpose, and audacity,” Shettima said. “To plant 20 billion seedlings in four years is to show that the future must be planted, nurtured, and built.”

The Vice President, who is on a state visit to Ethiopia at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, praised Ethiopia’s commitment to climate resilience and reaffirmed Nigeria’s solidarity with the country.

“Ethiopia and Nigeria are the two most populous countries in Africa. This distinction is not just statistical; it is existential. We have the largest stake in Africa’s future,” he noted. “We are not mere spectators in this fight. We are partners ready to play our part to keep Africa green.”

Shettima added that the event aligns with commitments made at international climate summits, including the most recent UN Climate Change Conference (COP), and called for increased adaptation and mitigation efforts across Africa.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged African nations to adopt the Green Legacy as a cultural movement rather than just a policy initiative. He stressed the importance of homegrown solutions and revealed that Ethiopia’s tree-planting campaign was achieved without external funding.