Africa-Press – Liberia. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to transparent governance, environmental sustainability, and inclusive public engagement, unveiling a comprehensive account of its achievements and future direction during a high-level media engagement in Monrovia.
The presentation emphasized the critical role of the media in environmental governance, highlighted the institutional gains recorded in 2024, outlined strategic priorities for 2025, and charted an ambitious, transformative agenda for 2026 to strengthen Liberia’s environmental protection framework.
Speaking during the EPA’s 2025 Media Engagement held at the Agency’s headquarters on December 27, 2025, Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarpkawolo reported a strong and productive working relationship with the media from 2024 to 2025, stressing that journalists remain indispensable partners in promoting environmental education, public accountability, and citizen participation.
According to Dr. Yarpkawolo, the EPA’s engagement with the media extended across social media platforms, print publications, and broadcast outlets, complemented by a dedicated media training workshop aimed at strengthening environmental reporting and sustainability communication, which significantly expanded public awareness nationwide.
In terms of institutional stability, the EPA in 2024 secured the option to purchase and later successfully concluded the purchase of its headquarters, including the land on which its laboratory is situated. This milestone, along with the establishment of four new EPA offices and the ratification of several international agreements, marked a major step toward long-term organizational resilience.
Operationally, the Agency recorded unprecedented activity in 2024, conducting 1,463 nationwide inspections, carrying out 197 chemical tests, and reviewing more than 108 environmental monitoring reports, reflecting intensified compliance monitoring and environmental oversight.
Providing updates for 2025, Dr. Yarpkawolo disclosed that the EPA issued 257 environmental permits, while over 70 applications were rejected for non-compliance. The Agency also verified 167 project sites nationwide, conducted 34 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) conferences, and reviewed 248 environmental audit reports.
“Enforcement efforts were equally robust, with 140 enforcement actions undertaken and imposing over USD303,300 in environmental fines, generating over USD200,000 in revenue for government.
Additionally, 11 new environmental regulations were developed, and the Environmental Protection and Management Law was fully enforced, restoring confidence in regulatory oversight,” Dr. Yarkpkawolo told the media.
Significant progress was also recorded in chemicals and radiation management, with the EPA issuing over 150 chemical licenses and permits, processing more than 100 fumigation license applications, exceeding annual targets by 140 percent, and conducting 60 environmental investigations across the country.
The Agency further inventoried 25 medical and industrial facilities for radiation safety, completed 20 chemical escort operations covering more than 100 containers and trucks, accredited 9 analytical laboratories, and fully equipped 1 environmental laboratory and 1 mobile monitoring unit, while successfully remediating or restoring 3 polluted sites.
On climate action and innovation, the EPA highlighted investments including the construction of a Climate Change Laboratory at the University of Liberia, the launch of a Solid Waste-to-Biogas Project in Bensonville, the commencement of an Organic Waste Management Center in Monrovia, and ongoing coastal defense projects in Sinoe County and West Point, alongside securing USD 10 million from GEF-8 and ratifying Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).
Looking ahead, the EPA outlined five strategic pillars for 2025 and an ambitious 2026 vision focused on becoming a modern, science-driven institution, prioritizing a GIS-integrated compliance laboratory, automated ESIA systems, a strengthened Legal Department, a potential Environmental Court, climate financing mechanisms, and the enactment of the Nuclear Act of Liberia (2026).
The agency stressed that robust public awareness, driven by responsible and informed media, remains central to environmental protection and sustainable development.
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