Climate change can increase the importance of maintaining natural assets and thus increase the urgency felt both for mitigation and adaptation objectives. Therefore, the two components of the CRGE Initiative need to be carefully aligned to avoid conflicts and unexpected consequences. We do not yet face a significant clash of perspectives in Ethiopia, but robust debate can be expected quite soon, and ways to forge an Ethiopian approach to green growth that realises all potential benefits (and manages the potential downsides) might need to be explored.