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ADNews-Monrovia, Liberia: The National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS), in collaboration with key stakeholders, has begun consultations to develop a framework that will guide Liberia’s policies and laws on carbon-related matters.
The inclusive multi-stakeholder consultative engagement, held in Monrovia on Friday, September 26, 2025, brought together ActionAid-Liberia (AAL), Rainforest Trust, Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with government entities, civil society organizations, the banking sector, international partners, and prominent individuals.
ActionAid-Liberia Country Director, Madam Elizabeth Gbah, cautioned policymakers against enacting policies that shield polluters, stressing that Liberia stands at a critical crossroads.
“Liberia currently has the opportunity to protect its forests and benefit from carbon trade, but we must act wisely,” she said. “Communities are custodians of these forests, and we must ensure they have avenues for redress.”
Gbah emphasized that inclusivity is key in shaping a sustainable policy:
“As we at ActionAid work with young people, women, persons with disabilities, and social justice groups, we believe carbon credit policies must reflect inclusivity. Climate change cannot be addressed if voices are excluded.”
She reaffirmed AAL’s partnership with the EPA and pledged continued support to strengthen Liberia’s climate governance.
Prominent legal advocate Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe also addressed the gathering, urging Liberians to return to their traditional values of forest preservation.
“Our culture once prioritized afforestation as a way of preserving our heritage. Today, deforestation and illegal activities threaten both our environment and our wildlife. Beliefs are stronger than laws—when we abandoned those beliefs, we began destroying the forest,” he warned.
Cllr. Gongloe called for nationwide awareness to protect forest custodians and prevent Liberia from turning into a “complete desert” if preservation efforts fail.
The Country Director of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, Dr. Annika Hillers, raised alarm over the rapid disappearance of Liberia’s forests.
“Illegal mining, farming, logging, and constant conflicts of interest among government agencies are driving destruction. Everyone wants control over carbon deals because of the money, but without protecting mangroves and old-growth forests, carbon projects cannot succeed,” Dr. Hillers stressed.
She urged stakeholders to focus on building a credible carbon framework that could position Liberia to earn billions from responsible carbon trading.
From the financial sector, the International Bank Liberia pledged its support. Representative Mr. Lawrence Sharpe said the banking sector stands ready to help ensure the NCCS achieves its goal.
“It is our responsibility to support the government in this national effort. We hope the policy framework we produce will serve the interests of all Liberians,” Sharpe noted.
The consultative engagement marks a significant step in shaping Liberia’s first comprehensive Carbon Policy and Law, which stakeholders believe will not only safeguard the nation’s forests but also strengthen its role in the global climate change fight.
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