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The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism is preparing to submit a draft Carbon Markets and Trading Policy to Cabinet, following comprehensive consultations and stakeholder validation.
“Consultations and stakeholder validation have been completed, and the draft will be presented to Cabinet very soon,” said Environment Minister Indileni Daniel. This landmark policy outlines Namibia’s approach to carbon trading under the Paris Agreement, setting the regulatory foundation for carbon credit standards, as well as systems for measurement, reporting, verification, and engagement with international carbon markets.
The Carbon Markets and Trading Policy is one element of a broader legislative agenda aimed at strengthening Namibia’s environmental and tourism sectors during the 2025–2026 financial year. In a recent Cabinet Committee briefing, the ministry presented a range of legal and policy initiatives currently under review or in development.
Among these is the long-anticipated Tourism Bill, still in its early stages. A consultant will be appointed in the second quarter to assist with its drafting, Daniel confirmed. The existing 2008 Tourism Policy is also undergoing revision, with work on a draft already underway.
Additionally, the 2007 Wildlife and Tourism Concession Policy is under internal review, with stakeholder engagement planned next. The ministry has also completed public consultations on proposed amendments to the Forest Act and its regulations and is currently integrating stakeholder feedback in preparation for Cabinet submission.
Other forthcoming initiatives include regulations on Strategic Environmental Assessments (pending the appointment of a consultant), and new regulations for sand and gravel mining, which are already in draft form and scheduled for public consultation this quarter.
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The ministry is also in the final stages of developing a national policy on prospecting and mining in protected areas, with public consultations and validation expected to conclude this month. Further reviews include the 2010 Devil’s Claw Utilisation Policy and the National Strategy for Forestry and Botanic Research, both in internal consultation phases.
According to Minister Daniel, this extensive policy reform supports the ministry’s constitutional mandate under Article 95, which calls for the sustainable management of natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.
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