ISLAMABAD, Tuesday, July 29, 2025 (WNP): Pakistan and Ethiopia have agreed to join forces on green initiatives, with a focus on afforestation, sustainability, and youth empowerment in a significant step toward global climate collaboration.

The agreement emerged during a high-level meeting between Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik and Ethiopian Ambassador Jemal Beker Abdulla in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Ambassador Abdulla introduced Ethiopia’s flagship Green Legacy Initiative, a nationwide campaign launched in 2019 aimed at restoring ecosystems through mass tree planting, empowering women through sustainable practices, and promoting environmental stewardship.

He emphasized the disproportionate impact of climate change on developing nations like Pakistan, despite their minimal contribution to global emissions.

“Global climate action must be inclusive and swift,” he said. “Ethiopia is ready to share its experience with Pakistan through technical cooperation and people-centered environmental projects.”

Minister Musadik Malik lauded Ethiopia’s leadership in green development and expressed strong interest in adapting elements of the Green Legacy Initiative to complement Pakistan’s Green Pakistan Programme.

“Our youth can be the driving force behind real, lasting climate action,” Dr. Malik stated. “We must empower them with the tools and platforms to innovate solutions for our environmental challenges.”

The two sides explored areas for future collaboration including joint afforestation drives, knowledge sharing, and community-based conservation programs.

Dr. Malik also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to foster environmental entrepreneurship, noting that five Pakistani green startups recently represented the country at the SDG Fair in Seville, Spain.

Turning to broader climate resilience, the minister voiced concern over Pakistan’s growing food security challenges, exacerbated by rapid population growth and dwindling natural resources. He stressed the need for climate-smart agriculture, improved water management, and sustainable farming methods.

Both Pakistan and Ethiopia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening environmental cooperation, promoting youth engagement, and exchanging best practices in the global fight against climate change.

The partnership signals a shared resolve to build greener, more resilient societies—rooted in cross-continental solidarity and collective climate action.