Environment and Climate Reporting

New Narratives supports dozens of investigations into extractives industries and climate, land and water justice in West Africa each year. We shine a spotlight on the impacts on real people here on the frontlines of climate change. In Ghana our work has focused on the dramatic impacts of air pollution. In Liberia and Sierra Leone we have shone a spotlight on mining and oil industries as well as climate justice. We have highlighted the work of changemakers and supported the work of civil society organizations bringing transparency to these crucial sectors. See some of our work here. We thank our donors – the Clean Air Fund, American Jewish World Service, the Swedish and US embassies in Liberia, and German Development Cooperation – for supporting this work.

African Development Bank Weighs Into Carbon Trading Debate Rejecting Government Claim that a Policy Was Linked to Bank Support

The African Development Bank has firmly rejected claims that its financial support to Liberia was contingent on the country adopting a carbon trading policy. In a statement, the Bank clarified that its recent financing package focused on fiscal sustainability and governance in the mining sector, with no mention of carbon trading. “Carbon market trading decisions…

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Video

African Development Bank Weighs Into Carbon Trading Debate Rejecting Government Claim that a Policy Was Linked to Bank Support

By Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon, climate and environment reporter with New Narratives Summary On the evening of April 23, a group of ministers and stakeholders – including civil society and community leaders – gathered at a hotel in Monrovia for a stakeholder dinner with the goal of approving Liberia’s draft carbon market policy. The timing was urgent, they were told….

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Frontpage Africa

“The Noise Pollution Situation Is Not Under Control,” EPA Launches Crackdown as Experts Call for Public Awareness

Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency has begun a nationwide crackdown on noise pollution, targeting churches, mosques, bars, and entertainment centers that exceed legal sound limits. Backed by police and city authorities, the campaign includes fines and confiscation of loudspeakers, with officials stressing that noise pollution is not just a nuisance but a public health issue. Experts…

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Video

“The Noise Pollution Situation Is Not Under Control,” EPA Launches Crackdown as Experts Call for Public Awareness

By Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon, New Narratives climate and environment reporter Summary For decades, noise in Liberia has functioned almost like an unwritten right. Churches and mosques broadcast sermons across entire neighborhoods before the sun is even up. Nightclubs shake communities deep into the night. Generators roar through blackouts. Street parties spill into public space with little regard…

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Frontpage Africa

Liberia’s Forests Could Be Its Biggest Economic Break — If the Money Reaches the People

By Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon, New Narratives climate and environment reporter Summary: In Liberia’s dense tropical forests, where the canopy stretches unbroken for miles, the country is sitting on what could become a major financial windfall. Experts estimate the nation holds one billion tons  of stored carbon, the ecological inheritance of centuries-old trees that have quietly absorbed carbon…

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Frontpage Africa

How Doctors In Ghana Are Leading The Fight Against Household Air Pollution

In Ghana, doctors are leading the fight against household air pollution, warning that smoke from charcoal and firewood stoves is putting millions of families at risk. With over 30% of households relying on charcoal and half still using firewood, children are the most vulnerable — facing respiratory infections, long‑term health problems, and even premature death….

Jennifer Ambolley
Video

As Environmental Protection Agency to Release Report on Latest Fish Die Off Near Bea Mountain Mine Expert Warns of Long Term Contamination

Liberia’s EPA to release findings on the Bea Mountain mine fish die-off. Experts warn of long-term contamination threatening rivers, crops and communities in Grand Cape Mount. A national call for accountability and stronger protections. Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon reports in this social media Video. To read more about this story click this link: Liberia: As Environmental Protection…

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Video

As Environmental Protection Agency to Release Report on Latest Fish Die Off Near Bea Mountain Mine Expert Warns of Long Term Contamination

By Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon, environment reporter with New Narratives Summary: . Cyanide contamination first struck the Mafa River in 2022; four years later, a second spill has again been traced to the Bea Mountain gold mine concession but unusual chemical has raised suspicions toxin was planted intentionally. · The Environmental Protection Agency has promised a report…

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Frontpage Africa

Inside Accra’s Mallam Market, traders breathe pollution twelve times higher than safe limits, but many don’t know the risks.

By Clankson Acheampong MALLAM MARKET, Accra –  By 7:30 a.m., Gladys Ahugah has already arranged her onions, ginger and garlic neatly on a wooden table under the scorching sun here at Accra’s biggest food market. Behind her, a pepper grinding mill roars to life. Dust rises. Vehicles crawl past on the busy Mallam-Kasoa road, releasing…

Clankson Acheampong
Asaase The Voice of Our Land

Experts Say Electric Vehicles Are The Future But Rollout In Liberia Faces Challenges; A New Policy May Change That

Electric vehicles are slowly appearing on Liberia’s roads, but experts warn the country risks falling behind without clear policies and infrastructure. The government is now drafting its first zero-emission vehicle policy to attract investment, cut pollution, and reduce dependence on imported fuel. With plans for tax breaks, charging stations, and safety standards, advocates say the…

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Video

Experts Say Electric Vehicles Are The Future But Rollout In Liberia Faces Challenges; A New Policy May Change That

By Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon, New Narratives climate correspondent On the busy roads of this capital city, something is changing. Alongside the old pickup trucks and exhaust-spewing taxis, a quieter kind of vehicle has appeared: electric cars, motorcycles and three-wheeled tricycles that hum instead of roar. They charge on electricity instead of burning gasoline and leave…

Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon
Frontpage Africa

In Rural Liberia, Climate Change and Gold Mining Are Converging to Threaten Livelihoods

Rural communities in River Cess County, Liberia, are facing a dangerous convergence of climate change and unregulated gold mining that is threatening their livelihoods. Once-reliable rivers and creeks have become polluted and muddy, forcing residents to walk long distances or pay for treated water, while local clinics report rising cases of waterborne diseases. Experts warn…

Eric Opa Doue
Video