Advances in Sciences and Humanities 2019; 5(4): 88-97 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ash doi: 10.11648/j.ash.20190504.11 ISSN: 2472-0941 (Print); ISSN: 2472-0984 (Online) The Politics of Environment in Ethiopia: The Policies and Practices Appraisal Since 1991 Sebsib Hadis 1 , Mulugeta Tesfaye 1 , Shimellis Hailu 2 1 Department of Peace and Development Studies, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia 2 Department of Political Science and International Relations, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia Email address: To cite this article: Sebsib Hadis, Mulugeta Tesfaye, Shimellis Hailu. The Politics of Environment in Ethiopia: The Policies and Practices Appraisal Since 1991. Advances in Sciences and Humanities. Vol. 5, No. 4, 2019, pp. 88-97. doi: 10.11648/j.ash.20190504.11 Received: July 8, 2019; Accepted: July 30, 2019; Published: August 13, 2019 Abstract: This article analyzes the Ethiopian environmental policy and practices since 1991. This paper employs a set of principles and frameworks that Weimer &Vining developed as grand principles of environmental policy and practices. The review is an attempt to analyze the international environmental engagements of Ethiopia vis-à-vis the domestic environmental policy practices. To properly address the issue, qualitative research approach and content analysis design are employed. The review consulted a multiple of secondary sources from different institutions and organizations. From the bulk of literature and policy documents, Ethiopia is an internationally visible country on environmental campaigns more than countries with better domestic achievements on the environmental protection. Unlike the international political leadership for green economy and environmental protection, the country’s domestic performances are not fully translated due to policy gaps, institutional dissonance and lack of political will and commitment. Hence, the environmental issues of Ethiopia serve the political agenda than the genuine environmental concern. The research implies the following areas of intervention. Namely, (1) the government needs to work on revising policy documents that correct environmental policy inconsistency. (2) It should also enhance the capacity, efficiency and institutional harmony of environmental protection agencies to realize the environmental goals of the country. (3) The government should give a political will and commitment to the domestic environmental issues like its international commitment and visibility. Keywords: Environmental Politics, Environmental Policy, Ethiopia, Practice 1. Introduction With the growing concern of environmental issue such as climate change, desertification, biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, solid waste pollution, dwindling fish stock and water and air pollution, the worlds’ leaders and their people begun to think and speak about environmental protection and conservation. Due to these many international protocols, conventions and declarations are produced. Governments established agencies, branches and structures to carryout environmental protection activities. These developments in international laws enhance the awareness about the fragility of global environment and the immenseness of the problems. Despite these good moves, because of lack of concerted effort and practical commitment the human environment is suffering from rapid environmental change. According to Mulugeta international soft laws on environment has three broad categories based on their intention in valuation and substance [1]. The first groups are those which are based on exploiting nature for immediate self-interest and aimed at maximizing nature’s resource for human use [2, 3]. The second Category is the soft laws that are based up on the principle of sustainable development [4, 5]. The last category is the contemporary approach, non-anthropocentric paradigm, like the [6]. As argued above, most of the international laws approach and by implication, the national governments inclination on environmental protection is too much anthropocentric. From those international instruments, Bio-diversity convention made a departure by giving primary concern in ecological survival. These international instruments serves as framework to implement programs, resolve disputes, develop national policy and build customary practice on environment.