Green Economy: Challenges of Sustainable Consumption and Production in Ethiopia

Berhe Addisu

doi:10.7176/jesd/10-1-05

Abstract

Sustainability issues became the most common agenda of several countries around the world, due to the three nucleolus factors such as social, economic and environment. Sustainable consumption and production is among the fundamental concern of the UN SDGs. Though, Ethiopia’s manufacturing sector is at its infant stage, few industries located around urban areas, are releasing their waste into the river system. Like many other African countries, Ethiopia is suffering from climate change and environmental pollution. Cognizant of this, the Ethiopian government planned to transform the country into a middle income category with zero carbon emission by 2025 by executing the GTP and CRGE initiative. However, successful implementation of the program confronted several challenges. Thus, the aim of this study is to identify major bottlenecks related to SCP and to point out possible ways to achieve a green economy trajectory in Ethiopia. The current research paper is a qualitative study in to the SCP. Secondary data from peer-reviewed reputable journals, UN SDG 12 reports, country wide analysis on green economy, FDRE SDG reports, news release, website of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MEFCC) and sustainability stakeholders report have been collected and analyzed. A semi-structured interview was carried out with MEFCC office personnel. Loose environmental policy enforcement at national, regional and local level, complexity in organizing SMEs structure for green, lack of knowledge and awareness regarding the impact and benefits of green economy among private industries, poor incentive package for private firms to promote environmental activities and support green economy and insufficient, unreliable and irresponsible production are among the major environmental bottlenecks that Ethiopia is facing currently. Keywords: Sustainable consumption and production (SCP), CRGE (Climate Resilience Green Economy), Sustainable Development Goals, Green Economy DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-1-05

Highlights

Sustainability issues became the most common agenda of several countries around the world, due to the three nucleolus factors such as social, economic and environment.[1]
The Ethiopian government planned to transform the country into a middle income category with zero carbon emission by 2025 by executing the GTP and Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) (Climate Resilience Green Economy) approach
The office in charge of environmental agendas--the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with the Ethiopian Development Research Institute, has designed a strategy to achieve green economy by identifying possible opportunities that the country can attain its ambition while reducing the emission of greenhouse gas

Summary

Introduction

Sustainability issues became the most common agenda of several countries around the world, due to the three nucleolus factors such as social, economic and environment.[1]. Countries speedy growth in economy coupled with consumers’ over-consumption of natural resources leads to environmental destruction.[7] Concern for the environment and successive efforts of environmentalists to enhance community’s awareness over the negative impact on the environment has become a nucleus global topic. Problem Statement Sustainability is satisfying the current need of consumption and production without compromising the future generations needs.[9] Consumption as usual presents a threat to the natural resource on which we all depend on at local, regional and global level This challenge will be overblown as the world population increases; more energy, material and services from the ecosystem are required which in turn overwhelm the ecosystem.[10] Business can play an imperative role in combating this challenge in a more sustainable pattern.

Literature Review

Contribution of SCP to meeting SDGs

Findings

Empirical Review and Discussion