By Amos Harris
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new initiative to curb noise pollution across Liberia, pledging strict enforcement of regulations on loudspeakers and other sound-producing equipment. The move comes as the agency also prepares to launch Liberia’s first-ever climate change law.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism’s (MICAT) regular press briefing, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo declared that noise pollution had reached “alarming levels.” He stated the agency will not only target individuals but also institutions and event organizers who violate environmental laws.
The new policy follows years of public outcry over sleepless nights and disrupted livelihoods caused by unregulated noise from religious services, street DJs, funeral wakes, and nightclubs. Under the new rules, violators face heavy fines, and non-compliant facilities risk being shut down. Health experts have long linked excessive noise exposure to stress, hearing loss, and other chronic health problems.
While community leaders have welcomed the move as “long overdue,” skepticism remains high over the agency’s capacity to deliver. Liberia has a history of weak environmental law enforcement, with past crackdowns often faltering.
“The EPA talks tough every year, but enforcement is always selective,” complained one Monrovia resident who endures nightly disturbances from nearby churches. “They go after the small violators while the bigger ones remain untouchable.”
Meanwhile, religious and cultural groups have raised concerns that the crackdown could restrict freedom of worship and traditional practices if enforcement is not applied fairly. Observers note that the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the EPA’s action signals a genuine turning point in environmental regulation.
During the same briefing, Dr. Yarkpawolo announced that Liberia will launch its first-ever Climate Change Law during a National Dialogue scheduled for August 21–22, 2025, in Ganta, Nimba County. The event, organized in partnership with the National Climate Change Steering Committee (NCCSC), will bring together a broad range of stakeholders, including ministers, civil society organizations, and religious leaders.
According to the EPA boss, the law will guarantee transparency, accountability, and fairness in carbon market operations while ensuring that vulnerable and forest-dependent communities directly benefit. The NCCSC, chaired by President Joseph Boakai, had mandated the EPA in July 2024 to develop a national framework in collaboration with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA).
With technical and financial backing from international partners, a draft Carbon Trading Policy has since been produced. This policy has undergone extensive reviews and consultations across seven counties, with more sessions planned nationwide. Liberia has also signed an agreement with the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN), which is conducting a full forest inventory and training a national carbon technical working group. The project will deploy advanced satellite technology and modeling to monitor the country’s forests and mangroves.
“This process is not just about government,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “It is about the survival of our forests, the well-being of our people, and the long-term prosperity of our nation.”
Globally, carbon trading has emerged as a critical tool for financing climate action and promoting sustainable development. By passing its first climate law, Liberia aims to position itself as a credible player in the global carbon market. The government has urged all Liberians to actively participate in the upcoming dialogue, describing it as a milestone in shaping the country’s environmental future.