In this interview, we speak with Melkamu Ogo, a seasoned private law practitioner and part-time lecturer at Addis Ababa University. Melkamu is the founder of Melkamu Ogo Law Office (MOLO), established in 2016. With over seven years of experience as a legal advisor, department head, and litigator for both governmental offices and prominent private business corporations, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his practice.
MOLO provides comprehensive legal services across a broad range of sectors, including media, business and investment, human rights, civic society organizations, criminal defense, and civil cases. Melkamu is dedicated to offering in-house legal consultation services for clients in various business sectors, alongside his extensive litigation and alternative dispute resolution experience.
Beyond his legal practice, Melkamu is committed to social responsibility, focusing on environmental issues and public interest litigation. He has co-founded several Human Rights Civic Society Organizations (CSOs) and voluntarily serves other existing CSOs, addressing the needs of marginalized and disadvantaged communities.
In this interview with Capital, Melkamu discusses the impacts of environmental issues on Ethiopia’s economy, the main contributing factors to these issues, the effects of urbanization and population growth, and the objectives and achievements of his organization, Defend the Environment. Through his insights, Melkamu sheds light on the critical intersection of environmental protection and economic development in Ethiopia. Excerpts;
Capital: What are the impacts of environmental issues on the economy of a country such as Ethiopia?
Melakmu Ogo: Ethiopia, a nation with a burgeoning economy and a population exceeding 110 million, faces significant challenges from environmental problems that directly impact its economic prospects. The interplay between environmental issues and economic performance is particularly pronounced in developing countries like Ethiopia, where agriculture, which accounts for a substantial portion of the GDP, is highly susceptible to pollution. Agricultural productivity and food security are affected by such issues. According to the findings of recent research conducted by various individual researchers and national and international organizations, including the World Bank and FAO, agriculture is the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy, employing about 70% of the workforce and contributing around 34% to the GDP. However, environmental problems, including deforestation, soil degradation, and pollution of water, soil, air, sound, deforestation, climate change, and similar issues, severely affect agricultural productivity.
Health costs and labor productivity are other areas that are affected by environmental problems. Problems such as pollution have dire implications for public health, which in turn affects labor productivity and economic growth. Air pollution, particularly in urban areas like Addis Ababa, leads to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and other health issues. The healthcare costs associated with treating these conditions are substantial, diverting resources from other critical areas of development. Moreover, pollution-related illnesses result in lost labor hours, decreased workforce productivity, and increased absenteeism. The economic burden of healthcare expenditures and reduced labor efficiency diminishes the overall economic output and growth potential.
Similarly, environmental issues directly affect tourism and natural resources, which contribute to the economy of the country. Ethiopia’s rich natural heritage, including historical sites, diverse ecosystems, and unique wildlife, is a significant draw for tourism, contributing to foreign exchange earnings and local employment. Environmental issues, such as deforestation, land degradation, and pollution, threaten these natural assets. The deterioration of tourist attractions can lead to a decline in visitor numbers, reducing tourism revenues and adversely affecting local economies that depend on this sector.
Capital: What are the main contributing factors for environmental issues, including pollution, in Ethiopia?
Melakmu: Ethiopia is not an exception to the world. Factors contributing to environmental issues in various countries have also been contributing to the environmental issues occurring in Ethiopia. Insufficient institutional capacity is one of the primary reasons for the lack of effective environmental regulation in Ethiopia. Regulatory bodies often lack necessary resources, such as funding, skilled personnel, and technological tools, to enforce environmental laws effectively. This resource deficiency hampers the ability of these institutions to monitor, regulate, and take serious administrative measures in a manner that deters and controls wrongdoers against the environment.
A weak legal framework on environmental issues is another contributing factor for environmental issues. The existing legal framework for environmental protection in Ethiopia is often criticized for being weak and fragmented. Although there are laws and regulations intended to safeguard the environment, they are frequently outdated, poorly drafted, and lack comprehensive coverage. Because of this, individuals committing environmental crimes are escaping criminal liability due to weak environmental legislation. Moreover, there is often a gap between legislation and practical enforcement. The legal provisions may not be stringent enough to deter polluters, and the penalties for non-compliance are often insufficient to compel adherence to environmental standards.
Prioritizing economic growth over environmental interests is also contributing to environmental issues. Conflict between environmental interests and development presents one of the challenges that affect the environment. Industrialization, urbanization, and infrastructure development which help in the country’s growth can sometimes lead to environmental issues. As a result, the current focus of the government on development and urbanization has been contributing to environmental issues in the country, though it is not as significant compared to other factors.The technicality of the environmental matter is another factor that contributes to environmental issues by reducing public participation. Lack of sufficient knowledge and information about environmental regulations, governance, and the importance of environmental protection restricts the public from challenging industries and government bodies to enforce environmental standards and act in conformity with relevant laws. Moreover, there is often limited community involvement in decision-making processes related to environmental policies, which can result in regulations that do not adequately reflect local concerns and needs.
Capital: How does urbanization and population growth contribute to environmental issues, especially pollution?
Melakmu: In the majority of the world, urbanization and population growth have been key factors contributing to environmental issues, including various forms of pollution. These factors primarily cause deforestation, generate industrial and other emissions, produce waste pollutants, and increase the need to consume more natural resources, all of which have a negative impact on the environment. However, without these practices, achieving economic growth and urbanization would be challenging and hardly possible for many countries.
As strategies to minimize the negative influence of urbanization and population growth on environmental issues, I advise implementing stricter environmental regulations, promoting sustainable urban planning, enhancing public transportation systems, promoting renewable energy sources, improving waste management practices, implementing green building standards, and encouraging community involvement and education.
Capital: What are the main objectives of ‘Defend the Environment’ regarding environmental protection?
Melkamu: Our organization, Defend the Environment, is a registered board-led Civil Society Organization (CSO) established by young and vibrant professional volunteers. Our main objectives are to promote and protect the environment, climate, biodiversity, natural resources, fundamental rights, and freedoms through advocacy, legal monitoring, capacity building, awareness creation, public interest litigation, and other related mechanisms.
In line with this, Defend the Environment is a leading CSO in Ethiopia, specifically known for practicing public interest litigation in courts to defend the rights of marginalized, disadvantaged, and economically weak groups, societies, and sometimes the entire public of various parts of the country. We have achieved high results in such court cases and have directly benefited a significant number of communities. Moreover, we are an organization that coordinates professionals who want to contribute to environmental issues and fundamental human rights through volunteerism. It is an honor to be a part of the service by supporting Defend the Environment, which works for the benefit of the public.
Capital: Finally, what are the success stories and achievements of the organization, Defend the Environment?
Melkamu: Since its establishment, our organization has achieved various success stories in different forms. Currently, we have won six successful court cases through public interest litigation against environmental polluters. These decisions have protected victims of environmental pollution from further harm by freezing the polluters’ actions. Another success story is organizing successful awareness creation and capacity-building programs for people from different walks of life. Environmental issues are technical in nature and require knowledge to understand the causes and their impact. Through our programs, we have seen positive reactions and increased awareness among environmental actors and community members. Additionally, our court cases have served as inputs for research conducted by individual researchers, scholars, policymakers, and academic institutions. Furthermore, our success stories have inspired professionals, scholars, students, and citizens from different communities to voluntarily defend environmental and human rights for the common good of the public and their communities.
