Published: November 3, 2025
MONROVIA – In a decisive move to strengthen Liberia’s role in the global fight against climate change, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has created the Carbon Markets Authority (CMA) through Executive Order No. 155, establishing a centralized institution to coordinate national carbon policy, manage carbon credits, and lead the country’s participation in international carbon markets.
The order, issued Friday, October 31, marks a significant step in Liberia’s effort to mobilize climate finance and meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement and its Revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
“Climate change presents serious risks to Liberia’s development and the livelihoods of its communities by threatening food security, health care delivery, and social and economic balances,” Boakai said.
He noted that waning support from international partners has strained Liberia’s ability to tackle climate challenges, especially among rural communities already bearing the brunt of deforestation, coastal erosion, and extreme weather. Despite these challenges, Boakai reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to advance national climate goals through institutional reform and innovation.
New Institutional Framework
Citing his constitutional authority to act in the public interest, Boakai said Executive Orders are necessary to address urgent issues that cannot wait for lengthy legislative procedures.
“By the authority vested in me as President of the Republic of Liberia, I, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., hereby establish the Carbon Markets Authority and define its mandate,” the president declared.
Under the order, the CMA will have 12 months to prepare and submit a Climate and Carbon Act to the Legislature. The Authority will be headed by a Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, who will serve as Chief Executive Officer and report directly to the president. Supporting officers will include a Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer, all of whom must demonstrate expertise in climate policy, finance, environmental science, and international trade negotiations. The Presidential Envoy will also possess “extraordinary and plenipotentiary powers” to execute the CMA’s mandate, signaling the administration’s determination to elevate climate action to the highest level of governance.
Coordination and Oversight Role
The CMA will serve as Liberia’s lead agency for all matters relating to climate finance and carbon market development. It will coordinate national initiatives, ensure compliance with global agreements, and oversee partnerships aimed at securing funding for sustainable development projects.
The Blue Economy Secretariat will operate under the CMA to advance projects that enhance marine and coastal resource management, aligning with global blue economy principles. The order mandates that all ministries, agencies, and commissions previously engaged in climate finance or carbon-related programs must now report to the CMA—effectively consolidating oversight and streamlining climate governance across government.
The Authority is also authorized to contract private sector technical advisors and registry operators, and to collaborate with international development partners on climate finance and carbon trading opportunities.
Compliance and Enforcement
According to the Executive Mansion release, within a year, the CMA must design a national compliance mechanism for monitoring and enforcing carbon market and climate finance regulations. In the interim, it may issue provisional suspensions or compliance warnings, and refer cases of noncompliance to investigative agencies.
President Boakai described the Authority’s creation as a “critical milestone” in strengthening Liberia’s climate governance architecture, unlocking sustainable finance, and ensuring that environmental stewardship translates into national prosperity.
“By establishing this Authority,” Boakai said, “Liberia takes a bold step toward protecting our environment, fulfilling our international commitments, and ensuring that our natural resources contribute to national growth and the well-being of our people.”
A Strategic Turning Point
With this move, Liberia positions itself among a growing number of nations building domestic frameworks to engage in carbon trading—a market expected to surpass $100 billion globally by 2030. The establishment of the CMA underscores the Boakai administration’s ambition to transform Liberia’s abundant forests, coastal ecosystems, and renewable energy potential into tangible economic assets, while reinforcing the country’s reputation as a responsible environmental steward on the African continent.
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