AGP Executive Report

Forest Fires: Satellite mapping shows rising fire activity across many of Africa’s tropical forest regions, adding pressure to the Congo Basin’s carbon-storing forests as climate risks grow. Climate Finance: African women leaders are calling for dedicated funding to put the Belém Gender Action Plan into practice, warning that climate commitments will fall short without resources. Mining and Forests: A report accuses ArcelorMittal Liberia of land grabs and water pollution, while environmental advocates are urging the EPA to strengthen oversight of mining. Separate reporting flags loggers and miners operating in the same forest. Liberia’s Climate Stance: Liberia was the only African country among eight to vote against a UN resolution welcoming the International Court of Justice’s climate opinion; the government later said the vote was an error. Clean Energy: The University of Liberia’s solar-powered student utility park is nearing completion.

Climate Finance: African women activists, including Liberia’s climate focal point, are calling for dedicated funding to ensure women benefit from climate action. Nature Protection: As COP17 approaches, just 113 countries have submitted updated biodiversity plans—58% of nations—leaving a major gap in efforts to halt nature loss by 2030. Mining and Forests: A report accuses ArcelorMittal Liberia of land grabs and water pollution, while another account describes loggers and miners operating illegally in the same forest. Advocates are urging Liberia’s EPA to strengthen mining oversight. Climate Diplomacy: Liberia’s vote against a UN resolution welcoming the International Court of Justice’s climate opinion drew scrutiny; the government later said the vote was an error. Food and Farming: Liberia is promoting a US$370 million agriculture investment plan focused on rice, cocoa, cassava and maize, while rural women’s advocates warn that farmers still face barriers to land, financing and decision-making.

Climate Diplomacy: Liberia’s vote against a UN resolution welcoming the International Court of Justice’s climate opinion—later called an error by the government—raises questions as the country prepares to seek climate finance and adaptation support at COP31. Mining and Water: A report accuses ArcelorMittal Liberia of land grabs and water pollution, while advocates are urging stronger environmental oversight of mining. Forest Protection: Reports that loggers and miners are operating in the same forest point to mounting pressure on Liberia’s forests and the need for enforcement. Climate Finance: African women leaders are calling for dedicated funding to put the Belém Gender Action Plan into action, warning that climate commitments risk falling short without resources.

Mining and Water: A report accuses ArcelorMittal Liberia of land grabs and water pollution, adding to calls for the Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen oversight of mining. Forests: Reports of loggers and miners operating illegally in the same forest underscore pressure on Liberia’s woodland. Land Rights: Eight years after the Land Rights Act, about 70 customary communities have completed the process to qualify for deeds, while 150 more are still formalizing claims; communities are still waiting to see how many deeds have been issued. Climate Policy: Liberia’s vote against a UN resolution welcoming the International Court of Justice’s climate opinion drew scrutiny ahead of COP31. The government later said the vote was an error. Biodiversity: Ahead of COP17, a global review found 113 countries had submitted updated biodiversity plans—still short of the goal for countries to act on nature loss.

Mining and Pollution: A report accuses ArcelorMittal Liberia of land grabs and water pollution, renewing scrutiny of the environmental costs borne by mining communities. Liberia’s EPA is also being urged to strengthen mining oversight. Forest Pressure: Reports say loggers and miners are operating illegally in the same forest, highlighting gaps in enforcement. Climate Finance: African women leaders are calling for dedicated funding to put gender commitments into climate action; Liberia’s climate-gender focal point joined the Nairobi discussions. Climate and Nature: Liberia’s vote against a UN resolution welcoming the International Court of Justice’s climate opinion drew questions ahead of COP31; the government later said the vote was an error. As COP17 approaches, only 58% of countries have submitted updated plans to address biodiversity loss.

Land Rights: Eight years after Liberia’s Land Rights Act, about 70 customary communities have completed the process to qualify for deeds, while 150 more are still formalizing their claims. Community groups say the government must show how many deeds have actually been issued. Mining and Pollution: A report accuses ArcelorMittal Liberia of land grabs and water pollution, while advocates are urging stronger EPA oversight of mining. Mining generated about 41% of Liberia’s revenue collected through September, sharpening calls to ensure extraction benefits communities without damaging their land and water. Climate Policy: Liberia’s vote against a UN resolution welcoming the International Court of Justice’s climate opinion—later described by the government as an error—raises questions ahead of COP31, where the country plans to seek climate finance and adaptation support. Forest Protection: Reports of loggers and miners operating illegally in the same forest highlight the pressure on enforcement. Climate-Smart Farming: A World Bank review in Bomi County found a supported farming group growing rice on 39 acres, with a community rice mill now operating and climate-smart agriculture training provided.

Climate Diplomacy: Liberia’s government says its May vote against a UN resolution welcoming the International Court of Justice’s climate opinion was an error. The vote drew scrutiny as the climate-vulnerable country prepares to seek more finance and adaptation support at COP31. Mining Pollution: An investigative report accuses ArcelorMittal of taking farmers’ land and likely contaminating water near its northern Liberia operations. The company disputes the claims and says compensation cases have been addressed. Environmental Oversight: Calls for stronger EPA protection in mining areas and a climate change law, backed by more funding, underline concerns about enforcement. Reports of loggers and miners operating in the same forest add to the pressure for action.

Climate Diplomacy: A new analysis asks what Liberia’s vote against a UN resolution welcoming the International Court of Justice’s climate opinion means ahead of COP31. The government later said the vote was an error, as Liberia prepares to seek climate finance and adaptation support. Food and Farming: In Rome, Agriculture Minister J. Alexander Nuetah unveiled a US$370 million investment portfolio for rice, cocoa, cassava and maize to boost domestic production and reduce food imports. Mining Impacts: An investigative report accuses ArcelorMittal Liberia of land grabs and likely water pollution; the company disputes the claims and says compensation issues have been addressed. Forest and Water Risks: In Gbarpolu, a mining exploration licence overlaps a community forest covered by a logging deal. The EPA previously fined the miner for operating without an environmental permit and contaminating a watercourse. Environmental Oversight: Liberian advocates are urging stronger EPA action in the mining sector, while the agency is pushing for a climate change law and more funding.

Mining Impacts: A report accuses ArcelorMittal Liberia of taking farmers’ land and polluting water; the company disputes the claims and says compensation cases have been addressed. Mining Reform: LEITI and the MCC are discussing reforms to strengthen oversight of Liberia’s extractive sector, while the mines minister has urged tougher enforcement against harmful mining. Forest Pressure: In Gbarpolu, a logging contract overlaps a mining exploration licence in a community forest; the EPA previously fined the miner for operating without an environmental permit and contaminating a watercourse. Climate Risks: Monrovia’s destructive rainy season highlights Liberia’s exposure to flooding and erosion. The EPA is also calling for a climate law and more funding, as the agency’s director says climate pressures threaten coastal communities and farming.

Mining Reform: LEITI and the Millennium Challenge Corporation are discussing reforms to strengthen transparency and oversight in Liberia’s mining sector, as the MCC assesses gaps and supports work on new mining laws. Pollution and Land Rights: A French investigative report accuses ArcelorMittal of taking farmers’ land and likely contaminating water in northern Liberia. The company disputes the claims, saying compensation cases have been addressed. Forest at Risk: In Gbarpolu, a logging contract overlaps a mining exploration licence in a community forest; the EPA previously fined the mining company for operating without a permit and contaminating a watercourse. Climate Resilience: Liberia’s EPA chief warns that rising seas and shifting rainfall threaten coastal communities and farmers, while the agency is pushing for a climate law and more funding. Monrovia has also endured another destructive rainy season.

Climate Risks: Liberia’s EPA chief says rising seas threaten coastal homes and roads, while shifting rainfall makes farming harder; he urges stronger planning and investment in resilience. Forest and Mining Pressure: In Gbarpolu, a logging contract overlaps a mining exploration license across a community forest. The EPA previously fined the miner $95,000 for operating without an environmental permit and found contamination of a local watercourse. Mining Oversight: Liberia’s mines minister has called for tougher enforcement, warning that illegal mining can expose communities to mercury and other risks. Concession Impacts: An investigation alleges ArcelorMittal’s operations in Nimba have taken farmland from nearly 1,000 farmers and polluted rivers and drinking-water sources. Coastal Pollution: Oil-coated birds have been reported after a fire on the Liberia-flagged tanker Aframax Rio off Russia’s Black Sea coast, though Russian authorities dispute reports of contamination.

Climate Risks: Liberia’s EPA chief says rising seas, flooding and shifting rainfall threaten coastal communities and farmers, even though Liberia contributes little to global emissions. Forest Protection: In Gbarpolu, a logging contract overlaps a mining exploration licence in a community forest, raising fears of conflict and further damage; the EPA fined the mining company in 2024 for operating without an environmental permit and contaminating a watercourse. Mining Oversight: Mines Minister R. Matenokay Tingban called for stronger enforcement to curb irresponsible mining and protect communities from mercury exposure, while Bomi officials pressed for transparency and local benefits. Concession Impacts: An investigation alleges ArcelorMittal’s operations in Nimba have displaced nearly 1,000 farmers and polluted water sources; the company’s iron ore exports supply steelmakers in France. Climate Policy: The EPA is also pushing for a climate change law and increased funding as Monrovia faces another destructive rainy season.

Mining and Land Rights: A new investigation accuses ArcelorMittal of taking land from nearly 1,000 Liberian farmers and poisoning rivers and drinking-water sources around its Nimba operations. The company shipped 12.7 million tonnes of Liberian iron ore to mainland France between 2020 and August 2026, the report says. Mining Oversight: At a Bomi County town hall, Mines Minister R. Matenokay Tingban urged stronger EPA enforcement, warning that illegal mining exposes communities to mercury and other risks. County officials also called for mining revenues to deliver visible local benefits. Climate and Energy: Liberia’s EPA is pushing for a climate change law and more funding, as Monrovia faces another destructive rainy season. The University of Liberia is nearing completion of a solar-powered utility park designed to provide reliable electricity, water and sanitation.

Renewable Energy: The University of Liberia’s $680,000 Solar Oasis is nearing completion at Fendall. The complex will use solar power to provide round-the-clock electricity, water, sanitation and Wi-Fi, with an opening planned for December. Environmental Protection: The EPA is urging the government to pass a climate change law and increase its funding. The agency reports 1,621 compliance inspections in the first half of 2026, and says it shut 30 water companies for violations. Climate Resilience: Monrovia has faced another destructive rainy season, renewing concern about the city’s exposure to worsening climate impacts. Water Access: The Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation says six communities could gain piped water by December 2026 or June 2027, if ongoing projects receive the needed support.

Climate Policy: Liberia’s EPA is calling for a comprehensive Climate Change Law and more funding, reporting 1,621 compliance inspections across the country in the first half of 2026 and the closure of 30 water companies for violations. Flooding: Monrovia’s low-lying communities face worsening floods as heavier, less predictable rain combines with clogged drains and construction in wetlands. Nearly 20,000 families have been affected, with seven deaths reported; residents want waterways cleared, while officials call for better forecasting, wetland protection and disaster funding. Water Access: LWSC says six cities and communities could gain piped water by late 2026 or mid-2027, if projects receive the support needed to finish.

Climate Policy: Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency is urging lawmakers to pass a comprehensive climate law and increase its budget. It reports 1,621 compliance inspections, 181 complaints investigated and 30 water companies shut for violations in the first half of 2026. Flooding: Heavier, less predictable rain, clogged drains and building on wetlands are worsening floods across Monrovia’s low-lying communities. Nearly 20,000 families have been affected, with deaths, displacement and disrupted schooling reported. Residents want waterways cleared; officials are calling for better forecasting, drainage, wetland protection and disaster funding. Resource Management: Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf renewed calls to move beyond exporting raw materials, arguing Liberia must build local processing and capture more value from its natural resources.