Ethiopia Moves Forward on Climate with Russia: A Pathway for African Nations in Collaboration with BRICS

Ethiopia and Russia have formalized a historic agreement on climate cooperation in low-carbon development. Signed on the eve of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, this agreement strengthens efforts toward climate resilience and sustainable growth through cross-border relations.

Facilitated by the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), this partnership serves as a model for other African nations looking to establish similar collaborations with Russia and the BRICS alliance in the fight against climate change.

The Memorandum, signed by Ethiopia’s Deputy Minister of Planning and Development, Seyoum Mekonnen, and Russia’s Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Vladimir Ilyichev, provides a general framework for cooperation between the two nations. It focuses on greenhouse gas emission reductions, carbon trading mechanisms, and knowledge and experience sharing.

Sergey Tverdokhleb, Deputy Chairman of the RSPP Committee on Climate Policy and Carbon Regulation, underscored the significance of this collaboration, stating, “Russian businesses view international climate cooperation, including climate project interaction with Ethiopia and other BRICS countries, as an important means to achieve both corporate and national climate goals. We hope the signed document and the planned working group will form a solid foundation for partnership development.”

Key elements of the agreement include the establishment of a joint working group on climate change and low-carbon development. This group will oversee the implementation of applied scientific research, greenhouse gas reduction strategies, and carbon market development between Russia and Ethiopia.

Ethiopia’s recent inclusion in BRICS aligns well with these objectives, allowing it to participate in the BRICS Memorandum on Carbon Market Partnership, which aims to facilitate discussions on carbon market expansion and potential carbon credit trading.

According to Andrey Melnichenko, Chairman of the RSPP Committee on Climate Policy and Carbon Regulation, the potential of climate projects in natural ecosystems and geoengineering projects could reach up to 150 Gt CO₂-equivalent annually, far exceeding all anthropogenic emissions.

The BRICS alliance, which Ethiopia officially joined at the beginning of 2024, accounts for over a third of this potential.

While this agreement is a positive step forward, it should be viewed as a starting point. Ethiopia is demonstrating leadership within the BRICS framework, serving as a model for other African nations interested in climate action, sustainable financing, and low-carbon technology.

This partnership opens avenues for more African countries to engage in similar collaborations, working with Russia and BRICS to address shared climate challenges. As more nations pursue such alliances through cooperation, innovation, and shared commitment to sustainability, Africa can become a dynamic participant in the global climate agenda.