Regulation No 545-2024 - The Powers and Duties of f the Environmental Protection Authority.

Regulation No. 545/2024 defines the powers, responsibilities, and organizational structure of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), established under Proclamation No. 1273/2023. The regulation authorizes the EPA to lead environmental governance at the federal level, including pollution control, climate adaptation, and sustainable resource management, in alignment with national development priorities. The EPA’s core mandates encompass setting and enforcing environmental standards, conducting inspections, issuing permits for activities with environmental impact, and monitoring compliance on waste, emissions, and hazardous substances. It also validates greenhouse gas inventories, approves carbon market mechanisms, and coordinates climate risk responses through adaptation plans and vulnerability assessments. Structurally, the regulation establishes specialized directorates for policy, enforcement, and technical services, tasked with strategic environmental assessments, complaint handling, and collaboration with regional bodies. Accountability is ensured through reporting to the Ministry of Planning and Development, while prior conflicting directives are repealed. Strategically, the EPA advances Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green Economy objectives by promoting circular economy practices, Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, and compliance with international environmental treaties, including those on ozone-depleting substances and biodiversity conservation. This regulatory framework strengthens institutional capacity for integrated environmental management and climate resilience.