September 1, 2011 - more»

Ensuring Energy Security in a Changing Climate

- November 11, 2011 -

The Ethiopian energy system relies on hydropower for 95% of its electricity production. Despite a growing electricity demand estimated at 13% per year, the dependence on hydropower is expected to reach nearly 100% by 2015. Along with the benefits of high specialization on hydropower, there are risks related to the vulnerability of the power system to natural hazards. Climate change, with its changing rainfall and temperature patterns, will affect both water and biomass resources and increase the country’s vulnerability as a result.

Vulnerability of the power system and its potential environmental, economic and social impacts can be mitigated through diversification of the power generation mix. In addition to hydropower, Ethiopia has considerable potential to produce energy from other resources such as geothermal, wind, biomass and solar energy.

The Green Forum 2009 explored possible strategies to make better use of Ethiopia’s diverse resources for power generation with a view to reducing the country’s vulnerability to natural and economic uncertainties. 

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Diversity and Security for the Ethiopian Power System A preliminary assessment of risks and opportunities for the power sector

- September 29, 2009 - Ethiopia, despite its recent rapid growth, is still among the least developed countries in the world. Its per-capita income is only US$896 [(in Purchasing Power Parity (IMF, 2009)] and it ranked 169 of 179 in the Human Development Index in 2006 (UNDP, 2008). Ethiopia’s stock of economic and social infrastructure is growing but is still considerably lower than the sub-Saharan average. Per-capita consumption of electricity is only 7% of the Sub-Saharan average and less than 20% of the population uses electricity. more»

Environmental Sustainability for Economic Growth

- September 30, 2009 - On October 30-31 2008, over 100 representatives of civil society organisations, the academia, the private sector and government agencies met in Addis Ababa to reflect on the question “Environmental sustainability and/or economic growth?” The title purposely contained “and/or” and was punctuated with a question mark in bold at the end, to indicate the question was open for debate. more»

Agrofuel Development in Ethiopia: Rhetoric, Reality and Recommendations

- September 1, 2009 - The last two years have seen lots of controversy and debate regarding agrofuels. There have been lots of stories about the potentially positive roles that can be played by agrofuels in promoting rural development and energy security as well as combating climate change and environmental degradation. Editors: Tibebwa Heckett and Negusu Aklilu more»

Climate change – A burning issue for Ethiopia

- August 7, 2009 - Ethiopia has entered its new millennium with high hopes of renaissance and a better life for all in the coming decades. One of the challenges it will have to face to make this dream come true is climate change and the consequences of climate change on the country’s natural resource base. Climate change will affect Ethiopia’s agriculture, water resources, biodiversity and ecosystems—hence it will highly disrupt the livelihood of the Ethiopian people. The well-off might be able to manage, but large sections of the populations, in both the lowlands and the highlands, may no longer be able to cope and will suffer more. Edited by Seyoum Mengistu more»

Environment for Survival – Taking Stock of Ethiopia's Environment

- August 12, 2009 - Green Forum 2006 was held on 2-4 October 2006, in the premises of the Addis Ababa University. It combined a conference and an exhibition. The conference sessions focused on thefive major ecosystems of Ethiopia: highlands, lowlands, forests, wetlands and the urban environment.  The aim of the event was to give an overview of the state of the environment in these ecosystems, stimulate the exchange of ideas and experience, encourage cooperation and networking, and reach out to the public.  Edited by Seyoum Mengistu and Camille De Stoop more»

May 21, 2010 - The articles in this 16th issue of Reflections are based on the presentations made at the Gender Fora meetings that took place in 2008. The forums reviewed gender equality in the context of environment, leadership and religion. more»

Reflections 2007

- The Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF) has been supporting the Gender Forum since 2000. The forum has the objective of promoting gender dialogue in Ethiopia, raise the awareness of the public and increase the visibility of the gender experts by providing them with a platform on a regular basis for experience sharing. Previously, the Gender Forum used to be organised by PANOS, with the support of HBF. Now that HBF has reopened its office in 2006, it has started to directly organize it. The recent emphasis during the Forums has been to inform and stimulate a dialogue on policy and decision making regarding gender equity and equality; and this focus serves as a basis for the publication of the “Reflections”. Editor: Teigst Lema more»