MONROVIA – As Liberia navigates growing environmental, climate, and regulatory pressures at home and abroad, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has presented its 2025 performance as a turning point from institutional rebuilding to firm regulatory action. Addressing staff, partners, and government officials at the Agency’s Year-End Closing Program, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo outlined how enforcement, science, and international engagement were used to restore confidence in environmental governance and reposition Liberia within global climate policy spaces. The Analyst reports.
The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, has described 2025 as a defining year of consolidation, credibility, and courage for the Agency, marked by strengthened environmental governance, robust enforcement, and elevated global climate leadership.
Dr. Yarkpawolo made the remarks Tuesday at the EPA 2025 Year-End Closing Program, attended by members of the EPA Policy Council and Governing Board, government officials, international partners, the media, and staff of the Agency.
Speaking during the program, Dr. Yarkpawolo said the year was not merely ceremonial but one of reflection, accountability, and recommitment to Liberia’s environmental mandate and future generations.
He expressed appreciation to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. for his continued support, including the donation of food items to staff in the spirit of Christmas.
According to the EPA Executive Director, one of the Agency’s most significant accomplishments in 2025 was the full enforcement of the Environmental Protection and Management Law, restoring public confidence in regulatory oversight.
He disclosed that the EPA conducted nationwide compliance monitoring and inspections and commenced construction of an Organic Waste Management Center in Monrovia to advance urban sanitation and the circular economy.
Dr. Yarkpawolo also announced the successful purchase of the EPA Headquarters, securing long-term institutional stability, and the development of Liberia’s Net-Metering Policy and Regulations, promoting renewable energy and private-sector participation.
In strengthening human capital, he revealed that 150 Liberians benefited from EPA-initiated scholarships valued at US$270,000, while additional Master’s and PhD scholarships were negotiated with Princeton University for qualified public-sector officials. The EPA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sierra Leone EPA to enhance regional collaboration.
Providing measurable regulatory results, Dr. Yarkpawolo reported that in 2025 the EPA issued 257 environmental permits, verified 167 project sites, rejected over 70 non-compliant applications, conducted 34 ESIA conferences and 11 public consultations, reviewed 248 environmental audit reports, and trained and certified 101 environmental evaluators.
He further disclosed that the Agency undertook 140 enforcement actions, imposed US$303,300 in environmental fines, and generated over US$200,000 in government revenue. The EPA also developed 11 new environmental regulations.
In chemical regulation and environmental monitoring, the EPA issued more than 150 chemical-related licenses and permits, exceeded annual fumigation license targets by 140 percent, conducted over 60 environmental investigations, monitored 70 facilities nationwide, accredited nine analytical laboratories, finalized National Radiation Safety Regulations, inventoried 25 medical and industrial radiation facilities, and successfully remediated three polluted sites.
Dr. Yarkpawolo highlighted the completion and operationalization of a state-of-the-art EPA Environmental Laboratory, enabling national analysis of water, soil, air, and marine samples, reducing reliance on external testing, and strengthening Liberia’s scientific credibility.
He also announced the launch of the Natural Capital Atlas of Liberia, documenting the country’s forests, wetlands, biodiversity, and mineral resources, and supporting Liberia’s ARREST Agenda and NDC 3.0, with international recognition at platforms including COP30.
On climate leadership, Dr. Yarkpawolo confirmed that the EPA successfully led the revision of Liberia’s NDC 3.0 under the Paris Agreement, integrating mitigation, adaptation, job creation, and resilience.
He noted Liberia’s growing influence in global environmental diplomacy, including participation at the UN General Assembly, UN Ocean Conference in France, and COP30 in Brazil, where Liberia hosted its national pavilion.
At the community level, the EPA deployed Environmental Inspectors to all 15 counties, established County Environmental Committees nationwide, and expanded public awareness through radio, social media, and grassroots engagement.
Looking ahead to 2026, Dr. Yarkpawolo said the EPA will focus on automating the ESIA regime, strengthening enforcement through a fully staffed Legal Department, establishing a central compliance monitoring laboratory integrated with GIS, exploring the establishment of an Environmental Court, developing a Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy, initiating National Environmental Funds, including a Climate Change Trust Fund and Green Tax, launching a Gender Policy, and leading the enactment of the Nuclear Act of Liberia.
“Environmental protection is not optional—it is the law, and implementation is a must,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said, reaffirming the EPA’s commitment to science-driven, accountable, and people-centered environmental governance.
He concluded by describing Liberia as the ecological heart of the Upper Guinean Forest and pledged that the EPA will continue working to secure a greener, safer, and more resilient future for the country.
He noted further: “Environmental protection must reach every county, community, and household. In 2025, the EPA deployed Environmental Inspectors to all 15 counties, established County Environmental Committees in all 15 counties, increased community engagement and awareness, and addressed pollution incidents, as well as expanded outreach through radio, social media, and grassroots platforms—building a culture where environmental stewardship is owned by the people.”
According to him none of the achievements would be possible without people of Liberia, adding that in 2025, the EPA strengthened internal systems and accountability, invested in staff capacity development—including sponsoring 12 staff at LIPA—promoted professionalism and ethical conduct, and fostered a culture of teamwork, faith, and service.
“To the management and staff of the EPA: you are the backbone of Liberia’s environmental future,” he said, acknowledge the help of partners including the US Embassy, UNDP, AfDB, GEF, GCF, UNCDF, IAEA, EU, FAO, Government of Canada, Conservation International, SCNL, and other partners. Environmental protection is a collective responsibility, and 2025 demonstrated what partnership can achieve.
He said in the coming year, key priorities include establishing a central compliance monitoring laboratory integrated with GIS, automating the ESIA regime, strengthening enforcement through a fully staffed Legal Department, and exploring the possibility of the Environmental Court as provided under the EPA Act.
Strategically, he stressed, the EPA will develop the NDC Implementation Plan and a Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy, initiate National Environmental Funds including a Climate Change Trust Fund and Green Tax, strengthen County Environmental Committees, revise environmental communication and public awareness strategies, launch the Gender Policy, conduct a nationwide inventory of radiation sources, and lead the development and enactment of the Nuclear Act of Liberia (2026)—positioning the EPA as a modern, science-driven, and forward-looking institution.