Ethiopia Goes Wild for Life for World Environment Day

Ethiopia celebrated the World Environment Day (WED) under the theme of “Go wild for life”, focusing on tackling the illegal trade of wildlife and safeguarding species under threat for future generations.

Speaking at the event, the United Nations Ethiopia Resident Coordinator, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie reiterated Ethiopia’s bold action in burning over six tonnes of illegal ivory in March 2015 in a move to counter illegal trade of ivory.

This year’s World Environment Day pledged to end the illegal trade in wildlife, from ordinary citizens, who can ensure they do not buy prohibited products, to governments, who can pursue change though implementing effective policies to protect species and ecosystems.

Delivering his keynote address, State Minister of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, H.E Mr. Kare Chawicha expressed his concern regarding Ethiopia’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, and the need to ensure that it doesn’t pose a threat to the country’s ambition to achieve a middle income status by 2025.”

In his message for the World Environment Day, UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon highlighted the commitment of the United Nations and its partners to tackle illicit trade in wildlife, including setting clear targets to put an end to poaching in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted last year by all 193 Member States. 

As part of the celebration festivities, a tree planting ceremony was held at the Ethiopian Youth Sports Academy with the State Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, head of Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Authority, the UN Resident Coordinator and other UN heads of agencies planting seedlings.