Ethiopia's Second National Mother Earth Day Celebration Financing Climate Change Adaptation and Climate Change Forum-Etniopia Climate and Health Working Group/Anti-Malaria Association Ethiopian Civil Society Network on Climate Change Ethiopian National Youth Coalition for Climate Change Forum for Environment Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre and Network Population, Health and Environment Ethiopia Consortium United Nations Environment Programme Mitigation

Abstract

Earth Day has b e en c e leb ra ted across the world for 40 years. The idea behind this was to raise awareness of the rapid degradation of the environment and depletion of natural resources due to human activities. The concept has expanded as we begin to understand our environment and the interdependent relationship humans have with it, and the impact of climate change is b e in g realized. Earth day is ce lebra ted across the world in schools, universities, communities and organizations by organizing different activities that will help commemorate the day. Ethiopia chose to remember its second earth day by preparing an event in connection with the issue of climate finance. It is notable that the Copenhagen Accord entails a short term funding of USD 30 billion to developing countries for immediate adaptation and mitigation needs for three years (2010-2012). The Organizing Committee of Earth day 2010 decided it was timely and important to organize an event which would engage the donor community and civil society organizations as well as publicize existing, on the ground projects focused on adaptation activities. “Financing climate change adaptation and mitigation” was thus chosen as the theme for the panel discussion. One of the highlights of the event was the official inauguration of a research report commissioned and published by Oxfam International. “The rain doesn’t come on time anymore: Poverty, vulnerability, and climate variability in Ethiopia” is part of a series of research reports written to inform the public debate on development and humanitarian policy issues. Similarly, a collection of se lected abstracts on climate change researches compiled and published by the Ethiopian Civil Society Network on Climate Change was also launched. In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr Seyum Mesfin affirmed Ethiopia has joined the global effort to address climate change taking into account the seriousness of the problem. The celebration of Earth day in Ethiopia is also seen as an opportunity to show the holistic challenge Ethiopia is facing due to climate change. In describing several challenges, he emphasized its impact on the country’s effort to ensure food security. In connection with the various efforts b e in g done to mitigate the impacts of climate change, he acknowledged the efforts of federal and regional governments, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations and extension workers. He emphasized that the issue of finance has to b e se en as an agenda along with adaptation and mitigation urging the need to se ek for funds b e sid e s that of the support by developed countries to developing countries to combat the impacts of climate change. The titles of presentations and pre sen ters’ institutions were: Managing climate change finance in Africa (African Development Bank), CDM and REDD financing opportunities (UNDP), donor’s commitment for adaptation and mitigation financing (EU and Japanese Embassy), the role of civil societies in adaptation and mitigation financing (Oxfam America) and CDM and REDD: Policies and practices (Environmental Protection Authority). The presenter from World Vision highlights CDM and REDD expe rien ce s: CDM and its requirements, Humbo A/R CDM project, other CDM projects under process, REDD expe rience and challenges as well as lessons for our country. CDM was described to help developed countries to offset some of their emissions of CO2 and developing countries in contributing to sustainable development through: enhancement of resource base for future generation, improvement of water table, biodiversity and land productivity, income generation from Carbon credit and contributions for poverty alleviation. An overview of the Bale Eco-Region Sustainable Management Programme was given by Ato Tsegaye Tadesse (Farm Africa/SoS Sahel) with emphasis on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), its benefits, opportunities, challenges and risks. The Bale Eco-Region Sustainable Management Programme (BERSMP) is a six year and two-phased programme being implemented by FARM-Africa/SOS Sahel in partnership with Oromiya Forestry and Wild Life Enterprises (OFWE). The BERSMP is a large scale implementation in the Bale Mountains, which covers 14 woredas (10 in Bale and 4 in West Arsi zones of Oromiya). The implementation area is ca. 20,000 km2, with 1.5 million inhabitants in the target woredas. The BERSMP has six main programme themes. These are: Eco-region planning, capacity building, participatory natural resource s management (PNRM), natural resource based livelihoods, sustainable financing and policy support. In a presentation entitled “wetland-watershed integrated interventions for sustainability” Ato Shewaye Deribe reflected on Ethio-Wetlands Natural Resources Association’s expe rience. Unwise or unsustainable use; wetland policy and institutional gaps; siltation due to soil eroded from the degraded uplands; increasing temperature (climatic); capacity limitations; population growth/increasing demand for land and water were identified as causes of wetland degradation. Efforts to reverse the problem were also highlighted. Enhancing multi-stakeholder action or partnership, watershed based integrated approach, addressing issues of population, health and environment (PHE) integration and optimizing benefits to poor people and the environment by integrating sustainable use of re source s with socio-economic development were stated as interventions to halt the degradation. The importance of financing for the health sector was underscored by Dr. Daddi Jima in light of the fact that it is one of the sectors affected by climate change. Overall socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, strengthening institutional and human capacity, enhancing the surveillance system, the need for operational research and strengthening collaboration between different sectors were mentioned as adaptation measures to curb the impact of climate change on health. The last presentation was made by Ato Seyoum Zenebe from Ministry of Mines and Energy. As one component for the basis of development, en ergy resources can be divided into two: renewable energy resources (hydropower, solar, wind, biomass and geothermal), and non-renewable energy resources (coal, petroleum, oil shale). In briefing climate change financing: Climate change finance is stated to cover a wide range of proposals to fund schemes in developing world which reduce emissions of Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that cause climate change. The climate change financing is governed b y UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol. The source of finance for climate change adaptation or mitigation could b e in compliance (the Kyoto Protocol through CDM or joint implementation (JI) or voluntary basis. The sources of finance can be private, public, bilateral, multilateral agencies etc.