Ethiopia strengthens green economy with electric transport expansion

Ethiopia is stepping up its transition to a climate-resilient, green economy, with electric vehicles (EVs) and electric rail systems playing an increasingly central role, according to the Ministry of Transport and Logistics.

Yizengaw Yitayih, a senior climate change expert at the Ministry, told Fana Media Corporation (FMC), a partner of TV BRICS, that Ethiopia is actively fulfilling its commitments under the Paris Agreement, which the country ratified in the wake of the global climate accord’s adoption in 2015. The shift toward sustainable transport, he said, is a key part of Ethiopia’s broader national strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions and build long-term environmental resilience.

Among the government’s flagship environmental efforts is the Green Legacy Programme, designed to boost climate adaptation and promote ecological sustainability across the country.

“The deployment of electric vehicles in the transport sector is one of the critical measures being undertaken to reduce carbon emissions,” Yizengaw said. “We are seeing increased local assembly of EVs, the installation of public charging infrastructure, and the expansion of EV fleets in various cities.”

Addis Ababa and other regional cities have already introduced a growing number of electric buses, which are helping to transform the country’s urban transport landscape and support the development of a multi-modal mobility system.