Decree No. 019/2021 Regarding Climate Change

The Climate Change Decree establishes a national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trading system, aiming to create a carbon market in Gabon. This system specifically covers flaring in the oil industry (Article 10) and applies to any operator whose Type 1 and Type 2 emissions exceed 10,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Under this system, the Gabonese government sets a national GHG emissions cap. This cap is then used to establish a national GHG emissions plan, which includes the total number of emission allowances to be made available to operators. Each operator covered by the national system is allocated an emissions allowance. If an operator exceeds its allowance, it is required to pay a carbon tax (Article 66).

The Decree also establishes an integrated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions information system (Article 19). This system comprises three components: 

• A national GHG emissions inventory, prepared every four years based on the methodological principles defined in applicable international and national legal instruments. 
• A requirement for any operator in Gabon whose Type 1 and Type 2 emissions exceed 10,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent to conduct an emissions assessment. Each operator must establish an emissions monitoring plan for the purposes of the assessment, which must be approved by the Gabonese public authorities. 
• A national GHG registry, which contains emission allowances, GHG reduction units, and any other carbon credits issued or recognized by the Gabonese State.

Furthermore, the Decree establishes a Fund for financing climate change mitigation and adaptation policies, financed in part by the carbon tax (Article 108). 

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