MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has issued Executive Order No. 170, strengthening the powers of Liberia’s Carbon Markets Authority (CMA), introducing safeguards for community carbon rights and extending the deadline for legislation intended to regulate the country’s participation in international carbon markets.
The new order, which amends and restates Executive Order No. 155, designates the CMA as “the lead governmental agency for climate finance and carbon markets development,” granting it authority to oversee policy formulation, regulatory standards and Liberia’s participation in international carbon trading mechanisms, including Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
According to the Executive Mansion, the decision follows the September 1, 2026, presentation of the National Carbon Market Policy by the CMA, Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), following nationwide consultations.
President Boakai said the revised framework seeks to address institutional, financial and regulatory gaps identified under the previous executive order.
“Experience under Executive Order No. 155 shows the need to confirm the Authority’s powers expressly, to establish its governance bodies, to account for carbon revenues, to secure the rights of communities, and to extend the periods for work not yet completed,” the president stated.
Under Executive Order No. 170, a Steering Committee will serve as the CMA’s interim governing body, chaired by the minister of state for presidential affairs.
The CMA’s chief executive officer will serve as secretary to the committee while retaining the additional responsibility of presidential envoy on climate action.
The order also mandates the establishment of a National Carbon Registry to monitor carbon credit transactions originating from Liberia.
The registry, which must operate “in accordance with international standards,” will track the issuance, transfer and retirement of carbon credits to strengthen transparency and accountability.
The CMA is further required to publish quarterly reports on registry operations.
On financial management, the order validates fees previously collected under interim regulatory arrangements, subject to audit. It also authorizes the CMA to establish fees on a cost-recovery basis, with concurrence from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
A major provision of the revised executive order addresses the rights of communities and private landowners whose forests and natural resources could become part of carbon trading projects.
Section 7 states that “Communities and private individuals retain usufruct and ownership rights over trees, biomass and blue carbon ecosystems on Customary Land or private landholdings.”
The order further requires developers to obtain community consent before registering carbon projects involving customary or community land.
“No project on customary or community land shall be registered without evidence of free, prior and informed consent,” the order states.
The requirement is intended to ensure that affected communities participate in decisions concerning carbon projects on their land.
The CMA must also maintain a grievance mechanism to address complaints and establish safeguards against double counting of carbon credits.
Beyond forest conservation, the revised framework expands the Authority’s regulatory scope to cover forestry and REDD+, blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass and wetlands, renewable energy, agriculture and climate-smart urban development.
Meanwhile, Executive Order No. 170 gives the CMA six months to prepare and submit a draft Climate and Carbon Bill to the Legislature.
The proposed legislation must be developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, EPA, FDA and Law Reform Commission.
The bill is expected to formally establish the CMA through legislation, create a Liberian Carbon Investment Fund and provide legal mechanisms for revenue sharing, regulatory compliance and institutional accountability.
Until the legislation is enacted, the CMA will continue operating under executive authority.
The order also establishes a 90-day transition period following the law’s enactment, during which the Authority’s records, assets and personnel will be transferred to the institution established by statute.
Executive Order No. 170 takes immediate effect and will remain operational until superseded by an act of the Legislature.
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