The global focus on achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) requires active involvement from researchers and regulators in addressing climate change. In this context, the government of Ethiopia has implemented several innovative policies, notably the National REDD+ program, which aims to increase forest cover and reduce deforestation by targeting emissions from both deforestation and forest degradation while promoting sustainable land management practices. Additionally, initiatives like the Sustainable Land Management Program and the Green Legacy Initiative contribute to the country's environmental sustainability objectives. This study examines the effects of these policies on SDG performance based on World Bank data from 2000 to 2021, by employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and Error Correction Model (ECM), along with an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) robustness check. Findings indicate that net forest depletion negatively impacts sustainable development, underscoring the need for effective conservation measures. First, reducing deforestation is crucial for ecological balance. Second, afforestation initiatives are essential for restoring degraded lands and enhancing biodiversity. Third, expanding renewable energy sources mitigates climate change. Lastly, these climate change mitigation policies enhance sustainable development outcomes. Moreover, the study emphasizes the importance of population growth and economic development, suggesting that with proper education and training, the growing population can become an asset. learn more on SSRN