Ethiopia

We evaluate the net zero target as: Target information incomplete.

Ethiopia intends to become ‘carbon neutral’, but has not specified a target year (FDRE, 2015). Ethiopia has not submitted a Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy to the UNFCCC as of August 2022, but is in the process of developing one with support from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI, 2022). This process will include developing business as usual and net zero emissions scenarios. In 2020, Ethiopia joined the Climate Ambition Alliance: Net zero by 2050, but it is unclear what this means for Ethiopia’s net zero ambitions (Climate Ambition Alliance, 2019).

For further information on the targets Ethiopia has adopted, see the targets tab.

Scope

• Target year – Ethiopia does not specify the year it aims to reach carbon neutrality.
• Emissions coverage – Ethiopia states its intention to become “carbon neutral” (FDRE, 2015). For this reason, the CAT currently assumes Ethiopia’s target currently only covers CO₂ emissions. No detail is available on the sectoral coverage of the target.
• International aviation and shipping –Ethiopia provides no information on its intention to cover international aviation and shipping.
• Reductions or removals outside of own borders – Ethiopia provides no information on its intention to use international offset credits to meet its net zero target. However, Ethiopia has been a proponent of international carbon markets and has indicated its intention to engage in these markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in its updated NDC (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 2021).

Target architecture

• Legal status – Ethiopia included its vision to become ‘carbon neutral’ in its INDC of 2015 (FDRE, 2015). Ethiopia had not submitted an LTS to the UNFCCC as of August 2022 and did not reference the carbon neutrality target in its 2021 updated NDC (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 2021).
• Separate reduction & removal targets – Ethiopia provides no information on its intention to communicate separate emission reduction and removal targets.
• Review process –Ethiopia provides no information on its intention to establish a review cycle for its net zero and intermediate targets

Transparency

• Carbon dioxide removal – Ethiopia provides no information on its intention to communicate transparent assumptions on carbon dioxide removals.
• Comprehensive planning – Ethiopia is in the process of developing a Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy with support from GGGI, including developing business as usual and net zero emissions scenarios (GGGI, 2022).
• Clarity on fairness of target – Ethiopia provides no information on its intention to explain the target’s fairness.

The Climate Action Tracker has defined the following good practice for all ten key elements of net zero targets. Countries can refer to this good practice to design or enhance their net zero targets.