Environmental policy integration in Ethiopia: challenges and prospects for sustainable social and economic development in Ethiopia

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Date

2019-05

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Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

A.A.U

Abstract

After 1987 onwards sustainable development becomes a guiding concept defining nations growth and development aspirations. The recognition of the concept by the UN in 1992 UNCED takes the concept to the international political arena. Since then different implementing instruments were devised and efforts were exerted in harmonizing and conceptually defining development as mechanism of balancing environment and development. But the aspiration for balancing environment and development is subject to multiple interpretations and understandings thereof are multiple. Given this EPI is recognized as a conceptual framework for prioritizing environment over other economic and social issues and making as an umbrella concept driving the admission of the world poor to substantial level of modernization. This stdy is mainly concerned on identifying challenges and opportunities for EPI in Ethiopia the underlining force driving such aspiration being sustainable social and economic development in Ethiopia. Along with it identifying the issues necessitating EPI in Ethiopia is discussed, legal and institutional framework for EPI explored and discussed and in addition what EPE is trying to integrate, how it is integrating, why it is integrating are identified. In doing so the study adopted a desk review methodology and document analysis technique. The findings of the study have showed that the policy is comprehensive enough in defining the integration of environmental aspect in to other sectoral and cross- sectoral policy areas. There are also regulations and proclamations guiding the specific implementation and prescribing behavior but implementation thereof is handicapped by; Skewedness towards quick economic achievement, Weak and unstable institutions at the Regional levels; Absence of Sectoral Environmental Units in the Federal Sectoral Institutions; Lack of adequate infrastructure and skilled human resource; Weak environmental legislations enforcement capacity ; Financial limitations; Absence of functional linkages among and between various state and non-state actors; Lack of environmental awareness and limited integration of environmental issues in formal education; Inadequate environmental information and lack of environmental information system and networking; Absence of environmental accounting systems in the National Income Accounting of the country or regions; Lack of awareness on environmental investment opportunities among the private sectors; Poor implementation of punitive and incentive measures enshrined in different environmental instruments. In order to minimized these challenges promoting environmental awareness, strengthening regional environment laboratories, establishing environmental information system and networking, developing and implementing human resource development programs, strengthening national environmental policy and strategy coordination mechanisms, initiating environmental accounting, promoting eco-investment, promoting environmental research, developing incentive structure and enhancing enforcement capacity of both federal and regional environmental agencies is recommended

Description

A senior essay presented to the school of graduate studies, Addis Ababa University in partial fulfillment for the requirement of masters of Arts degree in public management and policy (Policy stream)

Keywords

Environmental policy, Economic development

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