Environmental policy integration in Ethiopia: challenges and prospects for sustainable social and economic development in Ethiopia
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Date
2019-05
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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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