Ganta, Nimba County – The National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS), under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has officially launched Liberia’s first-ever National Carbon Market Policy Dialogue in Ganta, Nimba County.
The two-day gathering brings together government ministries, legislators, development partners, civil society, the private sector, women and youth leaders, and academia to deliberate on the draft national carbon market policy. The initiative is aimed at positioning Liberia to benefit from global carbon trading while safeguarding its forests and environment.
Opening the dialogue, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo described climate change as “one of the greatest challenges of our time,” stressing that the carbon market provides both environmental and economic opportunities. He highlighted four key issues requiring national consensus: ownership of carbon resources, benefit-sharing mechanisms, the choice of market model, and the establishment of transparent institutional arrangements.
The draft Carbon Market Policy has been developed through nationwide consultations across seven counties with technical input from Liberian experts, international partners, and the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN). Liberia plans to present the finalized policy at COP30 in Brazil this November.
Deputy Finance Minister for Economic Management, Hon. Dehpue Y. Zuo, emphasized that the dialogue reflects President Joseph Boakai’s commitment to making natural capital central to national development. He called for innovation in financing—through blended financing and green bonds—and urged alignment with Liberia’s Revenue Law, Local Government Act, and community ownership frameworks.
Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Managing Director, Hon. Rudolf J. Merab, cautioned that Liberia’s future depends on the responsible management of its resources, including carbon. “If we divide it among a few rather than managing it holistically, Liberia risks losing out in the future,” he warned.
As preparations intensify for COP30, Liberia’s EPA, Ministry of Finance, FDA, and partners reaffirmed their commitment to creating an inclusive and transparent carbon market policy that will support both national development and global climate action.
