Monrovia – Liberia is sitting on a multi-million-dollar local weather finance alternative—however with out motion, the window is closing quick. Whereas different African nations money in on their forests and coastlines via regulated carbon markets, Liberia has but to determine a Carbon Market Authority (CMA)—the important thing establishment wanted to unlock carbon buying and selling, regulate emissions offers, and guarantee native communities profit.
Specialists warn that with out the CMA, Liberia dangers dropping out on tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} yearly from forest conservation, mangrove restoration, and Blue Economic system initiatives. Gabon, Kenya, and Ghana have already got nationwide frameworks in place—Gabon earned $150 million from a single carbon credit score deal in 2022—whereas Liberia, house to 40% of the Higher Guinean rainforest and 580 km of shoreline, stays on the sidelines.
Communities Defend, However See No Returns
From Bong to Grand Kru, forest and mangrove guardians say they’ve but to see advantages. “We defend these assets, however we get nothing,” stated one Grand Bassa resident. “Why is the federal government delaying this Authority?”
The absence of a CMA can also be stalling Liberia’s Blue Economic system Technique, which depends closely on carbon finance to fund fisheries, marine conservation, eco-tourism, and renewable ocean power. Inside experiences recommend Liberia might earn over $30 million yearly from blue carbon credit alone—however no undertaking will be verified internationally and not using a nationwide registry and regulatory physique.
Authorities insiders blame bureaucratic turf battles and a scarcity of political will. “Everybody desires to regulate carbon income, however nobody is prepared to maneuver the method ahead,” stated one professional.
Donors Shedding Persistence
Worldwide companions, together with the World Financial institution, UNDP, and the African Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI), have provided technical and monetary help however say they’ll’t transfer ahead and not using a functioning CMA. A leaked ACMI letter warned: “Liberia has the pure capital to steer Africa in carbon finance, however with out an authority or registry, we can’t proceed with undertaking approval or investor matching.”
Public Stress Mounts
Civil society teams are calling on President Joseph Boakai to behave—both by signing an Govt Order or sending the Carbon Market Invoice to the Legislature. With the UN Local weather Summit (COP30) in Brazil simply months away, they warn Liberia may very well be sidelined from main funding talks.
Specialists urge fast motion, amongst them the Passage of the Carbon Market Authority Act or set up a brief CMA by Govt Order, launching o a Nationwide Carbon Registry beneath the Ministry of Finance and EPA, holding neighborhood consultations to outline benefit-sharing, combine blue carbon and marine ecosystems into the nationwide carbon technique.
“This isn’t an environmental luxurious—it’s an financial crucial,” stated a pure useful resource economist. “If we don’t act now, others will revenue from our pure wealth whereas we get left behind.”
