This document outlines the plan to develop Ethiopia into a green economy.

The Environmental Protection Authority is established as an autonomous public institution of the Federal Government. The Authority shall be accountable to the Council of Ministers. “The objective of the Authority shall be to ensure that all matters on the country’s social and economic development activities are carried out in a manner that will protect the welfare of human beings as well as sustainably protect, develop and utilize the resource bases on which they depend for survival”.

“This resettlement framework seeks to ensure that affected communities are meaningfully consulted in the planning process, adequately compensated, fairly and transparently”.

The National REDD+ Strategy is primarily developed to complement climate-resilient green economy efforts, particularly in the forestry and wildlife sector. The primary goal is to reduce deforestation, and forest degradation, while promoting afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable management of forest resources. It also places importance on strengthening the relevant institutions charged with leading the vision for a green economy, as enshrined in the CRGE vision and goals.

“The National Strategy and Action Plan for the Implementation of the Great Green Wall highlight the evolution of the Great Green Wall for the Sahel and Sahara Initiative (GGWSSI); presents an assessment of Ethiopia’s biophysical, socio-economic and policy, legislation and institutional aspects as they relate to the initiative and potential areas across the GGWSSI development. The strategy consists of six pillars namely: sustainable management of natural resources and improved production systems, development of basic socio-economic infrastructures, development of income-generating activities, promotion of good local governance, capacity building of stakeholders, and research and knowledge management. The overall goal of the GGWSSI is to improve the resilience of human and natural systems in the Sahel-Saharan zone against climate changes”.

The policy acknowledges the non-realization of the potential benefits inherent in the country’s wildlife and forestry sector. It states that the threats faced by the sector arise from illegal and improper land use ranging from illegal encroachment, poaching, and settlement. The strategy and policy follow from existing international natural resources and development principles in seeking to arrest the rapid decline in the numbers of wildlife, and realization of the potential in the sector in form of tourism, sports, and trade. The major objective of the policy is to create a conducive environment whereby the country’s wildlife and their habitats are protected and developed sustainably.

This document is the fourth volume of the national policy on natural resources and the environment. Volume 1 examined the underlying state of the country’s natural resources, volume II presented a policy and strategic framework for the sustainable use of the resources, while III dealt with questions arising with regards to institutions and implementation plans for the strategies. This volume IV highlights plans and actions across a framework of cross-sectoral and sectoral programmes to translate the strategies in volume II into actionable activities.

The strategy and action plan state that Ethiopia’s population of world rarest animals is gradually on the decline due to overuse and loss of natural habitats, due to the ever-growing human population. Deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, and desertification thus threaten the biodiversity and natural resources base of the country. The strategy and action plan address interrelated issues ranging from biodiversity protection and management for food security to improving the livelihood of the populace, especially the rural population.

The national biodiversity strategy and action plan represent Ethiopia’s 5-year plan to attain the targets for the biodiversity sector. It was prepared to guide national efforts in the conservation, sustainable utilization and equitable benefit sharing in the country. It provides important information on the biodiversity resource base, its values, and ecosystem services. The action plan is the response to the environmental challenges being faced in the country as a result of natural and artificial conditions and activities. The action plan is a multi-sectoral one and seeks to ensure the sustainability and conservation of Ethiopia’s ecosystem and biodiversity as a tool for improved food security, poverty eradication, and the general living condition of the populace.

The national adaptation plan seeks to increase the country’s resilience to climate change through building adaptive capacities. The adaptation plan focuses on sectors identified as most vulnerable; agriculture, forestry, health, transport, power, industry, water, and urban. Subsequently, 18 adaptation options and 5 strategic priorities were identified to address the vulnerabilities.

“The Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) is a nationwide sectoral document charged at laying out the adaptation initiatives, addressing both climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives that Ethiopia intends to undertake to limit its net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. The INDC is in line with the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE), integrated into the Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II)”.

“The National Policy on Natural Resources and the Environment is an overall comprehensive cross-sectoral and sectoral policy framework developed by the Transitional Government to guide natural resources and environmentally sustainable development, use and management. The overall policy goal is to improve and enhance the health and quality of life of all Ethiopians and to promote sustainable social and economic development through the sound management and use of natural, human-made and cultural resources and the environment as a whole to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

A proclamation to ratify the international convention on civil liability for bunker oil pollution damage as adopted by the International Maritime Organization in 2001. The ministry of transportation and communications is authorized to carry out implementation processes.

“The objective of this Proclamation is to protect human and animal health, biological diversity and in general, the environment, local communities and the country at large by preventing or at least managing down to levels of insignificance the adverse effects of modified organisms”. The Proclamation provides rules for the handling and use of Genetically Modified Organisms for the general protection of the environment.

The Proclamation provides for the ratification of the International Convention in the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling, adopted by the International Maritime Organization. It authorizes the Ministry of Transport and Communications to undertake in cooperation with the concerned governmental organs all acts necessary for the implementation of the Convention.

The proclamation ratifies the Agreement for the Conservation of African Eurasian Migratory Water Birds Agreement signed in Hague Netherlands on June 16th 1995. The Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority is saddled with the power of implementation.

The Authority is established as an autonomous federal government public institution, accountable to the office of the prime minister, and with powers and duties spelt out in this proclamation. The objective of the Authority is to “formulate policies, strategies, laws and standards, which foster social and economic development in a manner that enhance the welfare of humans and the safety of the environment sustainable, and to spearhead in ensuring the effectiveness of the process of their implementation”.

The proclamation to ratify the convention on migratory species of wild animals was adopted in Bonn, Germany, on 23 June 1979. The Ethiopian wildlife development and conservation authority are granted powers of implementation.

The proclamation is to ratify the Convention on the Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea was adopted by the international maritime organization in 1996. The Ministry of Transport and Communications is hereby authorized to undertake all acts necessary for the implementation of the convention.

The proclamation establishes the Ethiopian valleys development studies authority as an autonomous public authority. The Authority shall be accountable to the chairman of the council of ministers. The Authority is charged with conducting research and surveys on the natural resources of the country, preparing development master plans, as well as carrying out surveys on transboundary rivers and the general environment.