Adaptation efforts in Ethiopia aim to strengthen resilience against climate risks by protecting livelihoods, ecosystems, and critical infrastructure. Key actions include promoting climate-smart agriculture, developing drought-resistant crops and livestock, improving water harvesting and irrigation, restoring degraded landscapes, and expanding green urban infrastructure. The government also prioritizes ecosystem-based approaches, such as watershed rehabilitation and sustainable forest management, alongside community-led initiatives that ensure gender equity and inclusive participation. These measures help reduce vulnerability, safeguard food and water security, and support long-term sustainable development.

Ethiopia aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 68.8% below business-as-usual (BAU) levels by 2030, targeting a reduction from an estimated 401 MtCO?e (BAU) to 125 MtCO?e. The energy sector plays a central role, with plans to generate 100% of electricity from renewable sources such as hydropower, wind, and solar, while reducing biomass reliance through the distribution of over 35 million improved cookstoves. Land use change and forestry measures include restoring 15 million hectares of degraded land and raising forest cover to 30%. Livestock emission intensity will be reduced through improved breeds and feeding practices, while waste-to-energy, recycling, and industrial efficiency will further cut emissions.

Ethiopia’s greenhouse gas emissions are primarily driven by agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU), which account for over 80% of national emissions. Key factors include deforestation for fuelwood and farmland, livestock-related methane emissions, and unsustainable land management. Rapid population growth and urbanization increase demand for energy, water, and infrastructure, while heavy reliance on biomass fuels contributes to forest degradation. Industrial expansion and waste mismanagement are emerging contributors, although they remain smaller than AFOLU and energy-related sources. These drivers are compounded by climate variability, making resilience and low-carbon development urgent priorities.

Climate change in Ethiopia is already affecting key sectors such as agriculture, water resources, health, and infrastructure. Recurring droughts, erratic rainfall, and increasing temperatures have led to crop failures, reduced livestock productivity, and heightened food insecurity for millions of people. Floods and landslides damage roads, schools, and health facilities, disrupting essential services. According to national assessments, climate shocks can reduce Ethiopia’s GDP growth by up to 2–6% annually, with rural and low-income communities bearing the greatest burden. These impacts not only threaten livelihoods but also slow progress towards sustainable development goals.

Ethiopia’s vulnerability to climate change is shaped by its heavy dependence on rain-fed agriculture, high levels of poverty, and limited adaptive capacity. Over 80% of the population relies on climate-sensitive livelihoods, making rural communities particularly exposed to droughts, floods, and land degradation. Limited access to climate-resilient infrastructure, healthcare, and early warning systems increases the risk. Vulnerability is highest in lowland and drought-prone areas, where recurring climate shocks threaten food security, water availability, and health outcomes.