By By: Staff Writer
Executive Mansion, Monrovia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has issued Executive Order No. 170, amending and restating Executive Order No. 155 to consolidate the legal framework and powers of the Carbon Markets Authority [CMA] as Liberia moves to formalize its participation in global carbon markets and climate finance.
The order confirms the CMA as “the lead governmental agency for climate finance and carbon markets development,” mandated to oversee policy formulation, regulatory standards, and Liberia’s participation in international mechanisms such as Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The action follows the September 1, 2026 presentation of the National Carbon Market Policy by the CMA, FDA and EPA, with President Boakai noting that “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.”
Executive Order 170 establishes a Steering Committee chaired by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs as the interim oversight body, with the CEO continuing as Presidential Envoy on Climate Action. It also mandates a National Carbon Registry to track issuance, transfer and retirement of all credits originating from Liberia, described as “sovereign property of the Republic,” with quarterly publication of operations and fiscal implications.
In a significant provision, the order states that “Fees lawfully collected under any prior regulatory notice or interim framework are validated, subject to audit,” and authorizes future fees on a cost-recovery basis with concurrence from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. The Authority may also adopt per-unit or per-hectare charges within ceilings approved by the Steering Committee.
On community safeguards, Section 7 provides that “Communities and private individuals retain usufruct and ownership rights over trees, biomass and blue carbon ecosystems on Customary Land” and that “No project on customary or community land shall be registered without evidence of free, prior and informed consent,” with requirements for a grievance procedure and prevention of double counting.
The CMA is given six months to submit a draft Climate and Carbon Bill for submission to the Legislature, which will provide for statutory establishment of the Authority, the Liberian Carbon Investment Fund, sharing of proceeds and compliance mechanisms. Pending passage, the Authority continues under executive authority and will have a 90-day handover period after the Act takes effect to transfer records, assets and personnel, with the order remaining in force until superseded by law.
