Eco-Justice Ethiopia Launches Innovative Summit on International Day of Zero Waste

Addis Ababa, 08 April 2025 – In a bold move to address the twin challenges of climate change and waste management, Eco-Justice Ethiopia hosted a Youth Summit for Climate Resilience and Zero Waste on April 5th, coinciding with the International Day of Zero Waste.

The event aimed to empower high school students in Addis Ababa to become advocates for climate resilience and zero waste. The day began with an inspiring introduction about the concept of zero waste by Eco-Justice Ethiopia Founder and Executive Director Eskedar Awgchew. Attendees then heard from remarkable speakers who shared insights on composting, innovative ways of reusing plastic; and creating beautiful products from waste materials.

Held at the Addis Ababa City Administration Environmental Protection Authority Hall, the day-long program brought together 40 environmental club leaders from 20 high schools across Addis Ababa, policymakers from the Addis Ababa Environmental Protection Authority, academic experts from Addis Ababa University, and local zero-waste and climate-focused civil society organizations.

A key highlight of the initiative was the launch of the Climate Resilience & Zero Waste Solutions Competition, inviting student teams to design implementable projects that integrate climate adaptation with waste reduction, demonstrate measurable community impact, and align with zero-waste principles. Winning teams will receive funding of up to 25,000 ETB and mentorship to bring their ideas to life.

Why This Matters
"Addis Ababa's climate challenges and waste problems are two sides of the same coin," said Eskedar Awgechew, Founder and Executive Director of Eco-Justice Ethiopia. "By empowering youth to see these connections and create integrated solutions, we're investing in both our environmental future and our next generation of leaders."