Addis Ababa Mayor Initiates Six-Month Campaign for Environmental Protection

Addis Ababa — In an ambitious move to combat pollution and enhance urban aesthetics, Adanech Abiebe, the Mayor of Addis Ababa, announced the start of a six-month environmental protection campaign designed to involve approximately 2.7 million city residents.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the campaign, titled ‘Stop Pollution, Beauty Awakes’, aims to address climate change impacts and integrate sustainable practices within the city’s development projects. During the launch, Mayor Abiebe highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the riverside development led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which she believes will position Addis Ababa as a prominent global tourist destination.

The campaign is expected to bolster the city’s green credentials further, building on the successes of the national Green Legacy initiative which has seen around 60 million trees planted in recent years. Dida Diriba, CEO of the Addis Ababa City Environmental Protection Authority, stated that the campaign will also focus on increasing community awareness and participation in environmental conservation efforts.

Significant improvements in the city’s forest cover, which has risen markedly since the inception of the Green Legacy project, were also discussed. Additionally, Diriba expressed concerns over the rising use of plastic and promoted the adoption of electric vehicles as a measure to reduce environmental degradation.

The launch event was attended by Buzena Al-Kader, Speaker of the Addis Ababa City Administration Council, and over 2,000 local residents, marking a robust community turnout and support for the initiative.