Evaluating Ethiopia’s Environmental Management Strategy

Does It Support Green Growth

Bibliographic Data

ID21641568
AuthorsSeid Yimam (0000-0001-7058-5073, University of Sussex), Tiruwork Arega (0000-0002-1717-5144, UNU-MERIT and Maastricht University, Netherlands), Giovanni Occhiali (0000-0002-3541-5420, University of Sussex, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume35
Issue1
Pages3-25
Publication date2026-03-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Environment & Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1070-4965 • E-ISSN: 1552-5465
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10704965251353430
OpenAlexW4411683098
LanguageEN
References cited34

Ethiopia has pursued a manufacturing-led development strategy since the early 2000s, achieving substantial growth and poverty reduction. However, little attention is paid to the environmental costs of these results. Relying on the review of environmental policies and on 22 in-depth interviews with public and private stakeholders, we assess whether the existing command-and-control approach to environmental management is delivering on its promises, and whether there is scope for deploying environmental taxes. Our analysis demonstrates that, despite the implementation of a variety of regulatory measures, environmental management in Ethiopia is substantially ineffective. This is due to a combination of institutional instability, a lack of technical resources at the environmental protection authority, and to the low level of political priority of environmental protection. In this context, a switch to a market-based approach to environmental management would be ineffective, as the lack of political will to enforce environmental regulations is the real issue

Business · Economics · Green growth · Growth management · Political science · Sustainable development · Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management · Engineering · International Development and Aid

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Open DOIOpen Access