Environmental Regulation in Ethiopia: Is It Adequate?

Environmental regulation is a key tool for environmental protection. The objective of this paper is to examine the adequacy of environmental regulation for the safety of the environment in Ethiopia. Methodologically, it is doctrinal and the analysis is based on the existing constitutional, policy, and legal frameworks. Secondary sources are also used to a limited extent. It concludes that the environmental regulation in the country is not adequate since some of the anticipated implementing guidelines or directives are not prepared, or even when prepared, not approved yet. This is so mainly in cases of environmental standards and environmental impact assessment guidelines which are essential regulatory mechanisms for the protection of the environment. Moreover, where legal frameworks of regulatory mechanisms are clear, they are poorly enforced because of a lack of funds and capacity of human resources. Accordingly, the paper suggests filling these gaps to have adequate environmental regulation in the country.