EPA Moves to Regulate Noise Pollution -Unveils Carbon Trading Policy Plans

By: George C. Flomo

MONROVIA – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced sweeping measures to regulate the use of loudspeakers and curb noise pollution across the country, targeting churches, mosques, nightclubs, street DJs, and other establishments that generate excessive noise.

Speaking Tuesday as a guest at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo said the move follows growing public concern over uncontrolled noise levels in both urban and rural communities.

“We are urging bars, religious institutions, and entertainment centers to be mindful of the noise they produce,” Dr. Yarkpawolo stressed during the question-and-answer segment. “Noise pollution is a serious environmental issue, and Liberia cannot afford to ignore it.”

Journalists at the briefing pressed the agency on complaints from residents about late-night disturbances caused by loud music, church services, and entertainment events. The EPA confirmed that guidelines are being developed to hold institutions accountable while ensuring a balance between freedom of worship, business operations, and public health.

The move is expected to be welcomed by communities that have long raised alarm about noise pollution’s impact on health, education, and social life.

Carbon Trading Policy and Climate Change Law in Progress

Beyond noise control, the EPA Executive Director also announced progress on the development of Liberia’s Carbon Trading Policy and a forthcoming Climate Change Law, which together will provide a national framework for climate governance.

According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, the policies will establish rules for Liberia’s participation in international carbon markets, ensure transparency, and guarantee that benefits from climate finance reach vulnerable and forest-dependent communities.

The initiative is being spearheaded by the EPA under the mandate of the National Climate Change Steering Committee (NCCSC), chaired by President Joseph N. Boakai, with close collaboration from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA).

To strengthen this process, the Government of Liberia has signed a partnership with the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN), which is providing technical support, including a comprehensive forest inventory to assess Liberia’s carbon stock.

Capacity-building exercises are ongoing, with training sessions planned for later this month to equip national experts with advanced tools such as high-resolution aerial photography and modern modeling technologies to measure forest and mangrove carbon storage.

The EPA also disclosed that a National Dialogue on the Draft Carbon Trading Policy will be held from August 21–22, 2025, in Ganta, Nimba County. The forum will gather county superintendents, government ministers, civil society organizations, development partners, religious leaders, youth, and the media to review and strengthen the policy before finalization.

Following validation, the next step will be the drafting of a comprehensive Climate Change Law to enshrine climate governance and enforcement into Liberia’s legal framework.

Commitment to Sustainable Development

The EPA also reaffirmed Liberia’s determination to create a fair and inclusive system that protects the environment while uplifting communities.

“Liberia is committed to building a transparent and accountable carbon market that safeguards our forests and positions the country as a credible player in global climate finance,” Dr. Yarkpawolo stated.

With noise pollution now firmly on the regulatory agenda and major climate policies underway, environmental authorities say they are taking a two-pronged approach: addressing immediate community concerns while laying the foundation for long-term resilience and sustainable development.