Policy Influence on Climate Action - A perspective from Ethiopia
One of the most effective national climate policies I have seen is Ethiopia’s Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy, supported by national initiatives such as the Green Legacy Initiative. Its success comes from integrating climate resilience with low-carbon development, prioritizing reforestation, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, and demonstrating strong political commitment and national ownership.
In contrast, some international climate funds struggle with slow disbursement, complex access procedures, and misalignment with Ethiopia’s local agro-ecological and social contexts, limiting their effectiveness on the ground.
While the Paris Agreement is a critical step forward with its inclusive, bottom-up approach, its non-binding NDCs and inadequate climate finance fall short of meeting the 1.5°C goal, especially for climate-vulnerable countries like Ethiopia.
Political stability, economic capacity, and social inclusion heavily influence policy outcomes. Ethiopia’s experience shows that integrating climate action into national development plans, investing in community-based natural resource management, and leveraging indigenous knowledge are key to building resilience.
For other Global South countries, Ethiopia’s model offers a lesson: combine ambitious domestic climate strategies with strong local implementation, and advocate internationally for adequate, predictable, and accessible climate finance.
To bridge the policy-action gap, we need more flexible and direct climate funding, enhanced local institutional capacity, and policies that empower communities—especially smallholder farmers, women, and youth—to lead adaptation efforts in line with Locally-led Adaptation principles.