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Liberia enters carbon market

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By illuminem briefings

· 3 min read


illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Daily Observer or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Liberia is moving to enter the global carbon market, aiming to sell credits from its vast forests to help fund climate and development goals
The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) is drafting a carbon policy, with support from the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, to ensure transparency, protect community rights, and avoid past mistakes seen in the mineral sector
Concerns are growing among civil society and forest-dependent communities about equitable benefit-sharing, land rights, and the risk of exploitation

🔭 The context: Liberia’s forests cover over 6.6 million hectares and sustain livelihoods for around 60% of nearby residents
The 2018 Land Rights Law grants customary land communities ownership of forest resources, creating a legal foundation for them to claim rights over carbon stored on their land
A controversial 2023 deal with Blue Carbon sparked criticism for ignoring community consent and legal safeguards
With global carbon markets projected to cut emissions at lower cost, Liberia’s entry could generate needed revenue for its Nationally Determined Contributions and climate adaptation efforts — but risks marginalising rural communities if not properly governed

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Liberia’s forests are critical for biodiversity and climate mitigation, and its engagement in carbon markets could demonstrate how low-emitting, high-forest nations can finance sustainable development while contributing to global climate targets
However, weak safeguards or opaque deals could displace communities, undermine livelihoods, and harm trust in carbon markets
Ensuring rights-based, equitable participation is essential for credibility and environmental integrity

⏭️ What's next: A national carbon policy is being drafted to clarify ownership, trading mechanisms, and institutional responsibilities, with inputs expected from the EPA, Forestry Development Authority, Land Authority, and civil society
Stakeholders urge the government to treat carbon as a community-owned commodity, not a state-controlled resource
Ongoing concerns around the Mount Coffee hydropower carbon credit deal, signed without EPA oversight, highlight the need for clearer governance and transparency
Policy finalisation, pilot projects, and possible regulatory reforms are expected in the coming months

💬 One quote: "Carbon should be treated as a commodity, not a mineral resource … so that communities who own the land can also own and sell the carbon credits," — Andrew Zelemen, National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees

📈 One stat: Liberia contributes just 0.03% of global GHG emissions, yet its forests cover nearly 6.69 million hectares, offering significant carbon sequestration potential

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