We needed to start reversing the effects of climate change like, yesterday, and there’s no way that this is the first time you’re hearing something like this said.
Our environment is in a state of emergency, and if extreme measures aren’t taken within the next few years, the damage we’ve done will be irreversible.
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Though most of Western society seems a little apathetic about the whole situation, not every country is sitting back and watching as the planet dies.
Ethiopia is taking massive strides when it comes to environmental protection.
Earlier in the year, Ethiopia’s prime minister Abiy Ahmed introduced an initiative that encouraged citizens to plant at least forty tree seedlings each in between May and October.
Today, PM Ahmed announced that over 350 million seedlings were planted in just twelve hours.
Planting took place across one thousand different sites, where officials counted each seedling planted by volunteers.
Getahun Mekuria, Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology, tweeted to say more than 350 million had been planted in a span of 12 hours.
Volunteers are nowhere near done planting though.
The end goal of the initiative is to have roughly four billion trees planted by the end of October.
Reforestation is currently regarded as one of the most effective ways of tackling climate change.
With most of Ethiopia’s citizens making a livelihood through agricultural work, initiatives such as this are expected to improve quality of life across the country.
However, some of the Prime Minister’s critics claim that the tree-planting is simply a distraction tactic.
CNN reports that recent conflicts have forced more than two million Ethiopians from their homes in the country’s Sidama region.
Do you think that the initiative will make a positive impact?
Or is it merely a way to make citizens feel as though they’re helping reverse the effects of climate change? Either way, a feat such as that is certainly impressive.
h/t: CNN , Twitter| @PMEthiopia
