UEMI in Ethiopia

Policy Environment Paper - Ethiopia
This paper highlights policy measures adopted by the Ethiopian government in delivering on its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The paper reviews mitigation and adaptation efforts of the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change impacts in the context of the New Urban Agenda. The paper also presents an overview of the transport, energy and waste sectors and highlights policy strategies
and actions implemented by the city of Addis Ababa in the promotion of sustainable and environmentally-sound development.

Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa, the peninsula in East Africa, with a total surface area of 1,104,300 sq.km. The country borders Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Sudan (World Bank, 2018a). As at 2016, Ethiopia had a total population of 102,403,196 with a 19.9% share of urban population growing at a rate of 4.7% (World Bank, 2018b). The urban population of Ethiopia has been fluctuating over the past decades, though the larger part of the population remained rural throughout the periods. The most populated cities in Ethiopia include Addis Ababa, the capital city, with a 2010 population of 3,009,130; followed by Dire Dawa, Mekele and Nazret. Other major cities include Bahir Dar, Gondar, Dese, Hawassa, Jima and Bishoftu (Worldatlas, 2018, Atlas of Urban Expansion, 2016). Ethiopia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2016 was estimated at 72.374 billion USD, with a growth rate of 7.5% and aGDP per capita of 706.757 USD. The GDP figures of Ethiopia have shown oscillating trends over the years; and as indicated by the World Bank (2018a), this phenomenon constitutes the main challenges of the Ethiopian government in sustaining positive economic growth to accelerate poverty reduction. Ethiopia’s CO2 emissions in 2014 was projected at 11,598.7 ktCO2 with per capita CO2 emissions of 0.119 MtCO2. On the path to growing its economy, Ethiopia continues to make investments into physical infrastructure that will positively impact the lives of its citizens (World Bank, 2018b). The country is guided by the potential effects of infrastructural development on its environment; as such, commits to the agenda on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

In its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Ethiopia commits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 64% of the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario by 2030; translating into a reduction of 255MtCO2e. Ethiopia’s INDCs are founded from the country’s Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Strategy, which prescribes strategies and defines objectives to tackle the effects of climate change in Ethiopia. As indicated in the INDC, Ethiopia aims to attain carbon-neutral development in the long term. To be able to achieve these, the following sectors require some interventions in addressing climate change: Agriculture, Forestry, Transport, Energy, Industry, Buildings including Waste. The country recognizes the importance of both mitigation and adaptation measures; as such has outlined strategies and plans to reduce and adapt to climate change impacts. The agriculture sector (including livestock farming, crop cultivation and forestry activities) in 2010 is the highest contributor to emissions, amounting to about 88% of total greenhouses gases (GHG) emissions. The sector presents the highest abatement potential for GHG emissions reduction; hence was identified as a priority area that needs to be developed resiliently. The other sectors including Transport, Energy, Industry and Buildings each accounted for 3% of GHG emissions in 2010.

Ethiopia is a Federal Democratic Republic. The 1995 constitution of Ethiopia establishes nine States that are demarcated based on settlement patterns, language identity and under consensus of the people in the respective areas (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 2018). The constitution therefore establishes the Federal government and the State Authority, both of which have legislative, executive and judicial powers (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 1995). The constitution also gives citizens the right to fully partake in local and national development; as such, the lowest units of local government are empowered to allow citizens make direct contribution in the administration of grass-root level units (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 2018). For instance, Article 89, Section6 of the Ethiopian Constitution (1995) stipulates that “Government shall at all times promote the participation of the People in the formulation of national development policies and programmes; it shall also have the duty to support the initiatives of the People in their development endeavours” (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 1995, p.33). At the urban level, there exist city administrations whilst the rural areas are under the jurisdiction of districts known as “woredas”. Both the city and the district administrations are mandated by state constitutions to plan and execute socio-economic programmes and projects for the benefit of residents within their respective geographic areas. These local authorities largely depend on grants from regional states for the implementation of developmental activities (Ayele, 2011). At the lowest level of governance structure in Ethiopia are village level authorities called “Kebeles” which oversee development in village communities. The Kebeles are expected to collect income taxes from agricultural land, organize communal labour to support the execution of developmental activities and assist in the resolution of conflicts. The approval of development plans prepared by the "woredas" is also the responsibility of Kebeles (Bekele and Kjosavik, 2016). A major challenge faced by local authority (Woreda, city and Kebele) administrations in the discharge of socio-economic services, is the inadequate funding for the provision of infrastructure and social services. This situation is explained by the fact that revenue generated by local authorities in Ethiopia constitutes only 19% of total national revenue; whilst the federal government accounts for the greater portion of revenue collected as mandated by the Constitution (The World Bank,2018c). As such, national grants and transfers to local authorities remain the major source of revenue for local development.

The Ethiopian transport sector is dominated by the road sub-sector accounting for about 90% of motorized transport in the country.Consequently, government expenditure on road development has been increasing over the years (Worku, 2010). As the dominant sub-sector, road transport in Ethiopia offers different means of moving goods and people in urban areas; mostly by walking - 45%, public transport (buses, mini-buses, taxis) – 40%, private vehicles – 10% and others – 5% (UN-Habitat, 2013). According to a report of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA), Ethiopiaas at 2015, had the lowest motorization rate in the world, estimated at 2 vehicles per 1000 inhabitants (OICA, 2018). Despite its relatively low rate of motorization, vehicle registration in Ethiopia continues to rise; especially in the urban areas such as Addis Ababa which hosts about 70% of all vehicles registered in the country (Ethiopia Ministry of Transport, 2011).Cognizant of the environmental impacts of in- creasing vehicle ownership, the Ethiopian government in its Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy, is promoting a shift to more sustainable urban transport such as the light-rail tran- sit and bus rapid transit systems. The initiative also aims at improving fuel efficiency standards for vehicles and encourages the adoption of hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles (Government of Ethiopia, 2011). The transport sector in Ethiopia is overseen by the Ministry of Transport with collaborative responsibility of other state institutions such as the Ministry of Water and Energy, the Ministry of Urban Development and Construction and the Environmental Protection Authority.

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and represents the political and economic hub of the country. The population of the city as at 2010 was projected at 3,009,130 growing at an annual rate of 2.1% (Atlas of Urban Expansion, 2016). Addis Ababa is noted to be among the fastest growing metropolises in Africa; consequently, the city is facing the common problems associated with rapid urban growth including inadequate transport infrastructure and services, energy supply insufficiency, and challenges encountered with urban waste management (Ethiopia Ministry of Transport, 2011). The dominant economic activity in Addis Ababa is trade and commerce. Other economic sectors which offer most employment opportunities in the city include: manufacturing and industry, home making, civil administration, transport and communication (Government of Ethiopia, 2018). The UN-Habitat, reporting on the state of Addis Ababa in 2017, noted that there has been rapid economic development in the city over the years; and that the service sector continues to dominate the city’s economy (UN-Habitat, 2017).

Addis Ababa alone hosts 70% of all vehicles registered in Ethiopia (Ethiopia Ministry of Transport, 2011). Vehicle registration in Addis Ababa as reported in thecity’s Transport Policy of 2011, continues to rise. According to Nallet, C (2018), modal split in Addis Ababa is projected at 45% walking, 46% by public transport and 9% by private vehicles. Motorized public transport in the city is mainly provided by buses and mini-buses which are largely described as uncomfortable and inefficient (Nallet, C., 2018). Urban transport in Addis Ababa, is challenged by inadequate transport infrastructure, weak traffic management systems, poor public transport services with resultant effects of traffic congestion, high incidence of vehicular pollution, among others (Ethiopia Ministry of Transport, 2011). To derail the effects of this phenomenon on the socio-economic lives of urban dwellers in Addis Ababa, the city administration with support of the federal government and development partners initiated major transformative projects to improve urban transport in the city. Notable among these, is the development of a Light Rail Transit which began operation in 2015. The rail line which runs over a 17km-long distance on a dedicated power grid, was the first of its kind in the sub-Saharan African region (Nallet, C., 2018). Also, the City in collaboration with the French Development Agency is developing a Bus Rapid Transit system on a 16km dedicated lane with interchanges, traffic management systems and shelters. The project is planned to begin operations in 2019 (French Development Agency, 2018). It is expected that these initiatives complement efforts to promote mass transportation and environmentally sustainable urban transport in Addis Ababa.