Introduction
The Environmental Protection Act, 2025, (Act 1124) came into force on January 6, 2025, and aims to address critical environmental challenges, streamline existing environmental laws, and modernize Ghana’s environmental governance framework. The Act is driven by the urgent need to confront the interlinked crises of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The memorandum accompanying the Act emphasizes that these challenges not only jeopardize Ghana’s developmental gains but also pose severe risks to public health, economic stability, and ecological sustainability. Chapter 5 of the Act focuses on strengthening Ghana’s climate change governance to ensure a coordinated, effective, and internationally aligned response to the climate crisis. This briefing highlights the key climate change provisions outlined in the Act.
1. Integration of Climate Change into Governance
A cornerstone of the Act is the integration of climate change strategies into national, sectoral, and district-level planning. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is explicitly tasked with ensuring that these strategies are effectively incorporated across all governance levels. Furthermore, the EPA is responsible for monitoring the implementation of these strategies to promote consistency, resilience, and coordination in addressing climate change. This approach underscores the government’s commitment to embedding climate considerations into the broader development agenda.
2. Building Adaptive Capacity
In addition to integrating climate strategies, the Act prioritizes enhancing resilience to climate change by mandating the EPA to lead the development of adaptation plans for vulnerable communities and ecosystems. It institutionalizes disaster risk reduction frameworks to mitigate the impacts of climate-induced disasters, such as flooding and drought. Moreover, the Act requires the establishment of mechanisms, managed by the EPA in collaboration with local governments, to address socioeconomic losses caused by climate-related events. These include damage to infrastructure and livelihoods, demonstrating a proactive approach to climate adaptation.
3. Low-Emission Development Pathways
Complementing the focus on adaptation, the Act also seeks to transition Ghana to a low-carbon economy. To this end, it mandates the EPA to coordinate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in critical sectors such as energy, agriculture, and transportation. The EPA is tasked with promoting clean and climate-smart technologies while collaborating with the Ministry of Energy to scale up renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. This ensures that Ghana’s shift toward low-emission development is both effective and inclusive
4. Carbon Market Framework
To further support Ghana’s climate goals, the Act establishes a carbon market framework and assigns specific responsibilities:
- Ghana Carbon Registry
The EPA is tasked with managing this digital platform to oversee and track carbon market projects, ensuring transparency in emissions reduction.
- Carbon Market Committee
This body, overseen by the EPA, is responsible for approving mitigation activities, overseeing compliance with international standards, and facilitating projects under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
- Voluntary Carbon Market Participation
The EPA is tasked with supporting the development and certification of projects that generate carbon credits to advance Ghana’s sustainable development goals.
5. Mitigation Fund
Additionally, the Act establishes a Mitigation Fund to finance climate-related initiatives. Jointly administered by the EPA and the Ministry of Finance, the fund is designed to strategically support carbon trading, enhance mitigation outcomes, and finance additional projects to raise national ambition. The fund is financed through carbon activity fees, international climate finance, and domestic contributions, ensuring a sustainable financial mechanism for climate action.
6. International Climate Reporting
The Act mandates the EPA to lead Ghana’s international climate reporting obligations. This includes:
- Preparing and submitting reports to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and related treaties.
- Ensuring transparency in tracking Ghana’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
- Communicating progress, challenges, and achievements in climate action to international bodies.
7. Public Awareness and Capacity Building
Recognizing the importance of public engagement, the Act also tasks the EPA with raising awareness about climate change through national education campaigns and stakeholder engagement programs. Furthermore, the EPA is required to collaborate with educational institutions, civil society organizations, and local governments to build institutional and community-level capacity for implementing climate-resilient projects and practices. This provision highlights the Act’s commitment to fostering a well-informed and proactive citizenry.
Conclusion
The Environmental Protection Act, 2025, particularly Chapter 5, is a commendable step in the right direction for Ghana’s climate change governance. By mandating the integration of climate change strategies into governance frameworks, establishing a robust carbon market system, and emphasizing adaptation and public awareness, the Act lays a solid foundation for addressing climate challenges. It also aligns Ghana’s efforts with international standards, fostering resilience and sustainable development. The Act also provides certainty for stakeholders, especially businesses exploring climate-related projects. The Act positions Ghana as a leader in climate action, offering businesses a stable platform to innovate, invest, and grow while contributing to the country’s sustainable development goals.
| Dennis Martey Snr. Law & Policy Advisor TaylorCrabbe dennis.martey@taylorcrabbegh.com | Albert Mireku Agyepong Managing Associate TaylorCrabbe a.agyepong@taylorcrabbegh.com |
