This thesis investigates Ethiopia's national climate policy process to understand the discourses, actors, and structures that influence policymaking. As climate policymaking in Ethiopia has been evolving, the thesis asks what shapes the policy process. The question delves into addressing three specific objectives 1) exploring participation in global climate regimes and its influence on national policymaking, 2) Identifying the actors and narratives that shape domestic policymaking with a particular focus on the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) policy, and 3) examining climate policy integration into governance and barriers at the national level. Methodologically, a qualitative case study approach was followed as it allows an in-depth investigation into the politics of national cli...[ Read more ]

This thesis investigates Ethiopia's national climate policy process to understand the discourses, actors, and structures that influence policymaking. As climate policymaking in Ethiopia has been evolving, the thesis asks what shapes the policy process. The question delves into addressing three specific objectives 1) exploring participation in global climate regimes and its influence on national policymaking, 2) Identifying the actors and narratives that shape domestic policymaking with a particular focus on the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) policy, and 3) examining climate policy integration into governance and barriers at the national level. Methodologically, a qualitative case study approach was followed as it allows an in-depth investigation into the politics of national climate policy. Empirical data is collected from secondary sources and semi-structured interviews. Respondents for the semi-structured interviews were chosen purposefully and also in a snowballing process. The analysis reveals that the climate crisis narrative that accompanies climate negotiation and finance largely influenced national policymaking. The National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) and the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) imply the influence of global climate regimes on national policy processes via scientific norms and standards. Nonetheless, policymaking in the aftermath of the Copenhagen Summit indicates a policy change marked as policymakers embarked on the CRGE policy accompanied by emergent narratives and actor relations. The empirical evidence reveals that the political salience of the green economy narrative to the developmental state of Ethiopia presented climate mitigation as an economic development opportunity. This narrative shift incited new governing arrangements and actor networks that selectively integrate climate change into non-climate policy subsystems. However, silos remain a challenge to policy integration despite climate goals embraced in sectoral ministries. While climate finance and political oversight play critical roles, the instability of climate governance structures undermines the long-term cross-sectoral coordination of climate policy implementation.

Key Words: Climate change; policymaking; policy integration; subsystems; Ethiopia.