Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects

Taye Birhanu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13

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Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects

Taye Birhanu

Published in American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 8, Issue 6)

Received: 13 May 2019 Accepted: 13 June 2019 Published: 4 December 2019

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Abstract

The issues related to environmental problems and challenges such as climate change and global warming in particular and the issue of environmental crisis in general had been given very little attention until very recently which is, of course, insignificant compared to the seriousness and intensity of the problem. The main objective that has been addressed in this thesis is the establishment of sound arguments that could serve as a ground on which the environmental policy of Ethiopia could be rationally criticized. The problem dealt with in this thesis could be best defined and explained by looking at the larger picture of the issue of which it is part and parcel. The larger picture in this context represents or depicts the global environmental crisis that is resulting in the suffering of all that exist in the natural world. In attempt to resolve this common crisis we have been experiencing commitments of the countries of the world either individually or collectively through creating joint ventures that resulted in a number of initiatives and conventions regarding environmental issue. However, it has been argued throughout this thesis that most of the philosophical foundations and principles and values underlying those commitments made so far are problematic by themselves. Accordingly, the case of conducting philosophical enquiry into the environmental policy of Ethiopia has to be understood as part of the larger picture of the problem that has got more emphasis here for the sake of making it as specific as possible, otherwise it would have been very difficult to manage to arrive at the conclusions made in this thesis. Theoretically and conceptually this thesis is founded on the main argument in the study of environmental ethics that claims the study of environmental ethics and engaging in philosophical discourses through formulating sound arguments for and against the major approaches and theories of the environmental ethics play a pivotal role in the attempt to come up with an ethical environmental policy that guides and governs the relations between human beings and the natural environment in a manner that does justice to the environment. In general, in this thesis it has been argued either explicitly or implicitly that the environmental policy of Ethiopia is not ethical seen from the perspective of the holistic environmental ethics and principles of environmental justice.

Published in	American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 8, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13
Page(s)	121-132
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Natural Environment, Environmental Ethics, Environmental Policy, Anthropocentrism, Intrinsic Value, Extrinsic Value

References

[1]	Cochrane, Alasdair. (2006) “Environmental Ethics”. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Available at: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/21190/.
[2]	Boutros-Ghali, Boutros. (1992a) “Extracts from closing United Nations Conference on environment and Development statement,” in an UNCED summary, Final Meeting and Round-up of Conference, June 14, UN Document ENV/DEV/RIO/29, 14 June.
[3]	Murove, Munyaradzi Felix. (2009) “An African Environmental Ethic Based on the Concepts of Ukama and Ubuntu”, in Murove, Munyaradzi Felix (ed.). African Ethics: An Anthology of Comparative and Applied Ethics. Scottsville: University of Kwazulu –NatalPress, pp. 314-331.
[4]	Melaku, Bekele. (2008) “Ethiopia’s Environmental Policies, Strategies and Programmes”, in Taye Assefa (eds.). Ethiopia’s National Policies, Strategies and Programmes. Addis Ababa: Forum for Social Studies, pp. 337-370.
[5]	Workineh, Kelbessa. (2014) “Can African Environmental Ethics Contribute to Environmental Policy in Africa?” Environmental Ethics, 36: 31-61.
[6]	Keeley, James and Scoones, Ian. (2003) Understanding Environmental Policy Processes: Cases from Africa. London: Earth scan Publications.
[7]	Hoben, Allan. (1995) “Paradigms and Politics: The Cultural Construction of Environmental Policy in Ethiopia,” World Development, 23 (6): 1007-1021.
[8]	Kalavathy, Sitinuraisyah. (2004) Environmental Studies. Tiruchirappalli, India: Bishop Heber College.
[9]	Kumarawsamy, Kumbar. (2004) “Geohydrological Characteristics and Water Management Strategies for a Semi-Arid River Basin of South India”, Indian Journal of Geomorphology, 8 (1 and 2): 123-128.
[10]	Fumikazu, Yoshida. (2012) “The Theory of Environment Governance”, in Lecture on Environmental Economics, Chapter 4: 75-103.
[11]	Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. (1997) Environmental Policy. Addis Ababa: Environmental Protection Authority in Collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation.
[12]	Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. (2011) Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Initiative. Addis Ababa: FDRE.
[13]	Leopold, Aldo. [1949] (1966) A Sand County Almanac with Other Essays on Conservation from Round River. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[14]	MacKinnon, Barbara. (2007) Ethics: Theory Contemporary Issues, 5thedn, Thomson/Wadsworth, Belmont, California.
[15]	Hardin, Garrett. (1968) "The Tragedy of the Commons," Science 162: 1243-48.

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APA Style

Taye Birhanu. (2019). Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 8(6), 121-132. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13

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Taye Birhanu. Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2019, 8(6), 121-132. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13

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Taye Birhanu. Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects. Am J Environ Prot. 2019;8(6):121-132. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13,
  author = {Taye Birhanu},
  title = {Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
  volume = {8},
  number = {6},
  pages = {121-132},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20190806.13},
  abstract = {The issues related to environmental problems and challenges such as climate change and global warming in particular and the issue of environmental crisis in general had been given very little attention until very recently which is, of course, insignificant compared to the seriousness and intensity of the problem. The main objective that has been addressed in this thesis is the establishment of sound arguments that could serve as a ground on which the environmental policy of Ethiopia could be rationally criticized. The problem dealt with in this thesis could be best defined and explained by looking at the larger picture of the issue of which it is part and parcel. The larger picture in this context represents or depicts the global environmental crisis that is resulting in the suffering of all that exist in the natural world. In attempt to resolve this common crisis we have been experiencing commitments of the countries of the world either individually or collectively through creating joint ventures that resulted in a number of initiatives and conventions regarding environmental issue. However, it has been argued throughout this thesis that most of the philosophical foundations and principles and values underlying those commitments made so far are problematic by themselves. Accordingly, the case of conducting philosophical enquiry into the environmental policy of Ethiopia has to be understood as part of the larger picture of the problem that has got more emphasis here for the sake of making it as specific as possible, otherwise it would have been very difficult to manage to arrive at the conclusions made in this thesis. Theoretically and conceptually this thesis is founded on the main argument in the study of environmental ethics that claims the study of environmental ethics and engaging in philosophical discourses through formulating sound arguments for and against the major approaches and theories of the environmental ethics play a pivotal role in the attempt to come up with an ethical environmental policy that guides and governs the relations between human beings and the natural environment in a manner that does justice to the environment. In general, in this thesis it has been argued either explicitly or implicitly that the environmental policy of Ethiopia is not ethical seen from the perspective of the holistic environmental ethics and principles of environmental justice.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects
AU  - Taye Birhanu
Y1  - 2019/12/04
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13
T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13
AB  - The issues related to environmental problems and challenges such as climate change and global warming in particular and the issue of environmental crisis in general had been given very little attention until very recently which is, of course, insignificant compared to the seriousness and intensity of the problem. The main objective that has been addressed in this thesis is the establishment of sound arguments that could serve as a ground on which the environmental policy of Ethiopia could be rationally criticized. The problem dealt with in this thesis could be best defined and explained by looking at the larger picture of the issue of which it is part and parcel. The larger picture in this context represents or depicts the global environmental crisis that is resulting in the suffering of all that exist in the natural world. In attempt to resolve this common crisis we have been experiencing commitments of the countries of the world either individually or collectively through creating joint ventures that resulted in a number of initiatives and conventions regarding environmental issue. However, it has been argued throughout this thesis that most of the philosophical foundations and principles and values underlying those commitments made so far are problematic by themselves. Accordingly, the case of conducting philosophical enquiry into the environmental policy of Ethiopia has to be understood as part of the larger picture of the problem that has got more emphasis here for the sake of making it as specific as possible, otherwise it would have been very difficult to manage to arrive at the conclusions made in this thesis. Theoretically and conceptually this thesis is founded on the main argument in the study of environmental ethics that claims the study of environmental ethics and engaging in philosophical discourses through formulating sound arguments for and against the major approaches and theories of the environmental ethics play a pivotal role in the attempt to come up with an ethical environmental policy that guides and governs the relations between human beings and the natural environment in a manner that does justice to the environment. In general, in this thesis it has been argued either explicitly or implicitly that the environmental policy of Ethiopia is not ethical seen from the perspective of the holistic environmental ethics and principles of environmental justice.
VL  - 8
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Taye Birhanu

Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Social Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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APA Style

Taye Birhanu. (2019). Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 8(6), 121-132. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13

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ACS Style

Taye Birhanu. Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2019, 8(6), 121-132. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13

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AMA Style

Taye Birhanu. Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects. Am J Environ Prot. 2019;8(6):121-132. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13,
  author = {Taye Birhanu},
  title = {Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
  volume = {8},
  number = {6},
  pages = {121-132},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20190806.13},
  abstract = {The issues related to environmental problems and challenges such as climate change and global warming in particular and the issue of environmental crisis in general had been given very little attention until very recently which is, of course, insignificant compared to the seriousness and intensity of the problem. The main objective that has been addressed in this thesis is the establishment of sound arguments that could serve as a ground on which the environmental policy of Ethiopia could be rationally criticized. The problem dealt with in this thesis could be best defined and explained by looking at the larger picture of the issue of which it is part and parcel. The larger picture in this context represents or depicts the global environmental crisis that is resulting in the suffering of all that exist in the natural world. In attempt to resolve this common crisis we have been experiencing commitments of the countries of the world either individually or collectively through creating joint ventures that resulted in a number of initiatives and conventions regarding environmental issue. However, it has been argued throughout this thesis that most of the philosophical foundations and principles and values underlying those commitments made so far are problematic by themselves. Accordingly, the case of conducting philosophical enquiry into the environmental policy of Ethiopia has to be understood as part of the larger picture of the problem that has got more emphasis here for the sake of making it as specific as possible, otherwise it would have been very difficult to manage to arrive at the conclusions made in this thesis. Theoretically and conceptually this thesis is founded on the main argument in the study of environmental ethics that claims the study of environmental ethics and engaging in philosophical discourses through formulating sound arguments for and against the major approaches and theories of the environmental ethics play a pivotal role in the attempt to come up with an ethical environmental policy that guides and governs the relations between human beings and the natural environment in a manner that does justice to the environment. In general, in this thesis it has been argued either explicitly or implicitly that the environmental policy of Ethiopia is not ethical seen from the perspective of the holistic environmental ethics and principles of environmental justice.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Philosophical Enquiry into Environmental Policy of Ethiopia: Challenges and Prospects
AU  - Taye Birhanu
Y1  - 2019/12/04
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13
T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
SP  - 121
EP  - 132
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5699
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20190806.13
AB  - The issues related to environmental problems and challenges such as climate change and global warming in particular and the issue of environmental crisis in general had been given very little attention until very recently which is, of course, insignificant compared to the seriousness and intensity of the problem. The main objective that has been addressed in this thesis is the establishment of sound arguments that could serve as a ground on which the environmental policy of Ethiopia could be rationally criticized. The problem dealt with in this thesis could be best defined and explained by looking at the larger picture of the issue of which it is part and parcel. The larger picture in this context represents or depicts the global environmental crisis that is resulting in the suffering of all that exist in the natural world. In attempt to resolve this common crisis we have been experiencing commitments of the countries of the world either individually or collectively through creating joint ventures that resulted in a number of initiatives and conventions regarding environmental issue. However, it has been argued throughout this thesis that most of the philosophical foundations and principles and values underlying those commitments made so far are problematic by themselves. Accordingly, the case of conducting philosophical enquiry into the environmental policy of Ethiopia has to be understood as part of the larger picture of the problem that has got more emphasis here for the sake of making it as specific as possible, otherwise it would have been very difficult to manage to arrive at the conclusions made in this thesis. Theoretically and conceptually this thesis is founded on the main argument in the study of environmental ethics that claims the study of environmental ethics and engaging in philosophical discourses through formulating sound arguments for and against the major approaches and theories of the environmental ethics play a pivotal role in the attempt to come up with an ethical environmental policy that guides and governs the relations between human beings and the natural environment in a manner that does justice to the environment. In general, in this thesis it has been argued either explicitly or implicitly that the environmental policy of Ethiopia is not ethical seen from the perspective of the holistic environmental ethics and principles of environmental justice.
VL  - 8
IS  - 6
ER  -

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