Ethiopia's updated NDC targets 12% GHG emissions cut by 2030

Ethiopia has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The country is committing to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 12.4% in 2030 compared to a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, using its domestic resources. This would represent a 51.1 MtCO₂eq reduction, limiting GHG emissions at 360.85 MtCO₂eq in 2030 (compared to a BAU emission level of 412 MtCO₂eq). The emissions reduction target could be further increased to 53.5% with financial backing from the international community; this would limit GHG emissions to 242.8 MtCO₂eq, i.e. 220.6 MtCO₂eq less than the BAU scenario. Most of the savings would occur in the energy sector.

Previously, the country targeted a 64% reduction from the BAU scenario in 2030, from an estimated 400 MtCO₂eq level to 145 MtCO₂eq level in 2030, with most of the emissions cuts in the forestry sector. CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion have increased very rapidly since 2010 (11%/year) to 14 Mt in 2018. The country is among the lowest in the world for CO₂ emissions per capita.