Abstract
Low-income countries have been severely affected by climate change for several decades due to their limited capacity for adaptation. Ethiopia is among the low-income countries where climate change severely affected its socio-economic development processes. This chapter reviewed the ways Ethiopia has been responding to environmental and climate change problems in the last few decades. The chapter focuses on the evolution of policies and the discursive and institutional aspects that shape them. The review indicates that environmental interventions were introduced since the 1970s with the top-down planned conservation campaigns. This state conservationism evolved in the 1990s with the emergence of new actors and new forms of environmental governance guided by the sustainable development paradigm. The climate policy discourses further shifted towards low-carbon transformation in the post-Copenhagen period with the introduction of a green economy strategy based on the natural resources endowments to develop renewable energy alternatives.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
IPCC is a joint institution of World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Program that provide an authoritative international statement of scientific understanding of climate change.
- 2.
Data from Conway and Schipper (2011). On Adaptation to climate change in Africa.
- 3.
Art. 44 of the 1995 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Constitution.
- 4.
Art. 5 of the Environmental assessment proclamation 299/2002.
- 5.
From the 1997 environmental policy of Ethiopia.
- 6.
C40 is a network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change.
- 7.
Initial National Communication of Ethiopia to the UNFCCC (2001).
- 8.
The Climate-Resilient Green Economy strategy of Ethiopia. 2011 p. 21.
References
Adhikari, U., Nejadhashemi, A. P., & Woznicki, S. A. (2015). “Climate change and Eastern Africa: A review of impact on major crops.” Food and Energy Security, 4(2), 110–32, https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.61
Alemu, T., & Mengistu, A. (2019). “Impacts of climate change on food security in Ethiopia: Adaptation and mitigation options: A review.” Climate Change Management, 397–412. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75004-0_23
Assele, A. A., Aberra, Y., & Diriba, D. (2019). “Trends and regulatory challenges of environmental institutions: Evidence from federal and selected regions of Ethiopia.” Environmental Management and Sustainable Development, 8(2), 42. https://doi.org/10.5296/emsd.v8i2.14603
Ayana, A. N., Arts, B., & Wiersum, K. F. (2013). Historical development of forest policy in Ethiopia: Trends of institutionalization and deinstitutionalization. Land Use Policy, 32, 186–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.10.008
Ayana, A. N., Arts, B., & Wiersum, K. F. (2018). How environmental NGOs have influenced decision making in a ‘Semi-Authoritarian’ state: The case of forest policy in Ethiopia. World Development, 109, 313–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.05.010
Ayenew, M., Assefa, T., & Gebre-Egziabher, T. (2007). A rapid assessment of wereda decentralization in Ethiopia. Decentralization in Ethiopia, 69–101.
Bekele, M. (2008). “Ethiopia’s environmental policies, strategies and programs.” Digest of Ethiopia’s national policies, strategies, and programs, (pp. 337–69).
Bekele, M., Yemiru T., Zerihun M., Solomon Z., Yibeltal T., Maria B., & Habtemariam, K. (2015). The context of REDD+ in Ethiopia: Drivers, agents and institutions. Vol. 127. CIFOR.
Bekele, W., & Drake, L. (2003). Soil and water conservation decision behaviour of subsistence farmers in the eastern highlands of Ethiopia: A case study of the Hunde-Lafto area. Ecological Economics, 46(3), 437–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0921-8009(03)00166-6
Brown, D. R., Dettmann, P., Rinaudo, T., Tefera, H., & Tofu, A. (2011). Poverty alleviation and environmental restoration using the clean development mechanism: A case study from Humbo, Ethiopia. Environmental Management, 48(2), 322–333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-010-9590-3
César, E., & Anders, E. (2013). Ethiopia environmental and climate change policy brief. Sida’s helpdesk for environment and climate change.
Cheever, M., Graichen, K., Homeier, D., Howell, J., Kefauver, O., & Kimball, T. (2011). “Environmental policy review: Key issues in Ethiopia 2011”. Colby College Environmental Studies Program.
Conway, D., & Schipper, E. L. (2011). Adaptation to climate change in Africa: Challenges and opportunities identified from Ethiopia. Global Environmental Change, 21(1), 227–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2010.07.013
Damtie, M., & Bayou, M. (2008). Overview of environmental impact assessment in Ethiopia: Gaps and challenges. MELCA.
Death, C. (2015). Four discourses of the green economy in the global South. Third World Quarterly, 36(12), 2207–2224. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2015.1068110
Dejene, M., & Cochrane, L. (2019). Ethiopia’s developmental state: A building stability framework assessment. Development Policy Review, 37, 161–178. https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12414
Freire, M. E. (2017). “Urbanization and green growth in Africa.” Growth dialogue.
Gonzalo, J., Zewdie, S., Tenkir, E., & Moges, Y. (2017). “REDD+ and carbon markets: The Ethiopian process.” Managing Forest Ecosystems: The Challenge of Climate Change, 151–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28250-3_8
Gubena, A. F. (2016). Environmental impact assessment in Ethiopia: A general review of history, transformation and challenges hindering full implementation. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 6(1), 1–9.
Hajer, M. A. (1995). The politics of environmental discourse: Ecological modernization and the policy process. Clarendon Press.
Held, D., Nag, E.-M., & Roger, C. (2012). The governance of climate change in developing countries: A report on international and domestic climate change politics in China, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Tuvalu. Agence française de développement.
Held, D., Roger, C., & Nag, E.-M. (2013). “Ethiopia’s path to a climate-resilient green economy.” Climate Governance in the Developing World, 218–37.
Hoben, A. (1995). Paradigms and politics: The cultural construction of environmental policy in Ethiopia. World Development, 23(6), 1007–1021. https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-750X(95)00019-9
Hoben, A. (1996). “The cultural construction of environmental policy: Paradigms and politics in Ethiopia.” The lie of the land: Challenging received wisdom on the African environment, (186–208). James Currey Ltd.
Hoch, S. (2012). Governing clean development in LDCs: Do CDM rules promote renewable energy in Ethiopia? Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg.
Hovden, E., & Lindseth, G. (2004). Discourses in norwegian climate policy: National action or thinking globally? Political Studies, 52(1), 63–81. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9248.2004.00464.x
Hurni, H. (1988). Degradation and conservation of the resources in the Ethiopian highlands. Mountain Research and Development, 8(2/3), 123. https://doi.org/10.2307/3673438
Jordan, A., Huitema, D., Van Asselt, H., & Forster, J. (2018). Governing climate change: Polycentricity in action? University Press.
Jörgensen, K., Jogesh, A., & Mishra, A. (2015). Multi-level climate governance and the role of the subnational level. Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, 12(4), 235–245. https://doi.org/10.1080/1943815x.2015.1096797
Keeley, J., & Scoones, I. (2000). Knowledge, power and politics: The environmental policy-making process in Ethiopia. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 38(1), 89–120. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022278x99003262
Lavinia, R. (2017). “Towards the decarbonization of the economy: A comparative study between Sweden, China, and Ethiopia.” Master’s Thesis. Lund University.
Le Blanc, D. (2011). “Special issue on green economy and sustainable development.” In Natural resources forum, (Vol. 35(3), pp. 151–154). Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Leipold, S., Feindt, P. H., Winkel, G., & Keller, R. (2019). Discourse analysis of environmental policy revisited: Traditions, trends, perspectives. Journal of Environmental Policy Planning, 21(5), 445–463. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908x.2019.1660462
Litfin, K. (1994). Ozone discourses: Science and politics in global environmental cooperation. University Press.
Maxwell, S., & Belshaw, D. (1990). “Food-for-development: New roles for food aid in Ethiopia.” World food programme food-for-development mission, World Food Programme.
Medhin, H., & Mekonnen, A. (2019). Green and climate-resilient transformation in Ethiopia. Oxford University Press.
Mellese, D., & Salamon, K. (2012). The need for redesigning and redefining institutional roles for environmental governance in Ethiopia. MELCA-Ethiopia.
Michael, C., & Belshaw, D. (1986). The Ethiopian highlands reclamation study: Major findings and recommendations. In ONCCP (Office of the national committee for central planning). Towards a food and nutrition strategy for Ethiopia: Proceedings of the national workshop on food strategies for Ethiopia, (pp. 8–12).
Motuma, F. Y. (2017). “A review on policy change for climate change in Ethiopia.” Journal of Resources Development and Management, 2(2), 1.2.
Mulugeta, G. (2013). Defiance of environmental governance: Environmental impact assessment in Ethiopian floriculture industry. Journal of Environmental Research and Management, 4(4), 219–229.
Mustalahti, I., Bolin, A., Boyd, E., & Paavola, J. (2012). “Can REDD+ reconcile local priorities and needs with global mitigation benefits? Lessons from Angai forest, Tanzania.” Ecology and Society, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.5751/es-04498-170116
Newell, P., Jenner, N., & Baker, L. (2009). Governing clean development: A framework for analysis. Development Policy Review, 27(6), 717–739. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7679.2009.00467.x
Okereke, C., Coke, A., Geebreyesus, M., Ginbo, T., Wakeford, J. J., & Mulugetta, Y. (2019). Governing green industrialisation in Africa: Assessing key parameters for a sustainable socio-technical transition in the context of Ethiopia. World Development, 115, 279–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.11.019
Okubo, Y., & Michaelowa, A. (2010). Effectiveness of subsidies for the clean development mechanism: Past experiences with capacity building in Africa and LDCs. Climate and Development, 2(1), 30–49. https://doi.org/10.3763/cdev.2010.0032
De Oliveira, J. A. P. (2002). “Implementing environmental policies in developing countries through decentralization: The case of protected areas in Bahia, Brazil”. World Development, 30(10), 1713–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(02)00067-0
Organization for economic cooperation and development. (2011). Towards green growth: Monitoring progress. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/22229523
Parker, C., Mitchell, A., Trivedi, M., & Mardas, N. (2008). “The little REDD book: A guide to governmental and non-governmental proposals for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation.” Global Canopy Program.
Pearce, D. W., Markandya, A., & Barbier, E. (1989). EB, 1989. Blueprint for a green economy. Earth scan Publication.
Rahmato, D. (2001). Environmental change and state policy in Ethiopia: Lessons from past experience. Forum for Social Studies Monograph Series, 2, 10–108.
Roger, C., & Belliethathan, S. (2016). Africa in the global climate change negotiations. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 16(1), 91–108.
Rondinelli, D. A., Nellis, J. R., & Cheema, G. S. (1983). Decentralization in developing countries. World bank staff working paper, 581.
Simane, B., Beyene, H., Deressa, W., Kumie, A., Berhane, K., & Samet, J. (2016). Review of climate change and health in Ethiopia: Status and gap analysis. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 30(1), 28–41.
Sutter, C., & Parreño, J. C. (2007). “Does the current clean development mechanism (CDM) deliver its sustainable development claim? An analysis of officially registered CDM projects.” Climatic Change, 84(1), 75–90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-007-9269-9
Tedla, S., & Lemma, K. (1998). Environmental management in Ethiopia: Have the national conservation plans worked? OSSREA.
Thorme, M. (1990). “Establishing environment as a human right”. The Denver Journal of International Law & Policy, 19(2).
United Nations Environmental Program. (2011). “Towards a green economy: Pathways to sustainable development and poverty eradication. UNEP.
Vidal, J. (2009). “Copenhagen climate summit in disarray after ‘Danish text leak”. The Guardian, 8.
Virtanen, P., Palmujoki, E., & Gemechu, D. T. (2011). “Global climate policies, local institutions and food security in a pastoral society in Ethiopia”. Consilience, (5), 96–118.
Wamai, R. G. (2008). Reforming health systems: The role of NGOs in decentralization-lessons from Kenya and Ethiopia. International Society for Third Sector Research.
Wara, M. (2007). Measuring the clean development mechanism’s performance and potential. Stanford University.
Watson, C., Mourato, S., & Milner-Gulland, E. J. (2013). “Uncertain emission reductions from forest conservation: REDD in the Bale mountains, Ethiopia”. Ecology and Society, 18(3). https://doi.org/10.5751/es-05670-180306
Worku, H. (2017). Mainstreaming environmental impact assessment as a tool for environmental management in Ethiopia: Current challenges and directions for future improvements. Environmental Quality Management, 26(4), 75–95. https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.21506
World Bank. (2012). Inclusive green growth: The pathway to sustainable development. World Bank Publications. The World Bank.
Zegeye, H. (2018). Climate change in Ethiopia: Impacts, mitigation and adaptation. International Journal of Research in Environmental Studies, 5(1), 18–35.
Zinabu, E., Kelderman, P., van der Kwast, J., & Irvine, K. (2018). Impacts and policy implications of metals effluent discharge into rivers within industrial zones: A Sub-Saharan perspective from Ethiopia. Environmental Management, 61(4), 700–715. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0970-9
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bimir, M.N. (2022). Ethiopia’s Climate Change Policies in Retrospect: From Conservationism to Green Economy. In: Kurochkin, D., Crawford, M.J., Shabliy, E.V. (eds) Energy Policy Advancement. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84993-1_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84993-1_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-84992-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-84993-1
eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)