Ivory Coast: Climate Governance & Cocoa

Climate policy in Ivory Coast

The legal and institutional framework has recently been strengthened to better integrate mitigation and adaptation into development policies. Law No. 2025-528 of June 25, 2025, concerning the fight against climate change, represents a significant step by defining the principles, responsibilities, and instruments for emissions reduction, adaptation, transparency, and the mobilization of climate finance. This framework supports the new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), which sets an unconditional greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 33.07% by 2035 compared to the baseline scenario, potentially reaching 74.29% with international support (Côte d'Ivoire, 2025a).

Governance is based on an institutional architecture designed to strengthen coordination between different sectors and levels of decision-making. The National Commission for the Fight Against Climate Change (CNLCC) coordinates and monitors national action, while the Carbon Market Office serves as a one-stop shop for market and non-market carbon mechanisms. The 2025 law consolidates this architecture by promoting the integration of climate issues into sectoral policies, as well as stakeholder participation, action monitoring, and resource mobilization. This coordination is particularly important in strategic sectors such as energy, agriculture, forestry, waste, and industry, but also for the adaptation of populations, ecosystems, and infrastructure (Côte d'Ivoire, 2025b).

The main challenge now lies in translating this strengthening of norms and institutions into effective implementation. Achieving the most ambitious goals remains highly dependent on international funding, technology transfers, and the strengthening of national capacities. At the same time, inter-ministerial coordination, measurement, reporting, and verification mechanisms, as well as the integration of climate issues at different territorial scales, still need to be consolidated. Analyses of NDC implementation in Africa show that the existence of goals and institutions is not enough: their effectiveness also depends on available resources, technical capacities, institutional coordination, and monitoring and accountability mechanisms (Ozor et al., 2026).

Ivory Coast. (2025a). Law No. 2025-528 of June 25, 2025, relating to the fight against climate change. Republic of Ivory Coast.
Côte d'Ivoire. (2025b). Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Ozor, N., Nyambane, A., & Muhatiah, W. (2026). Measuring climate action beyond commitments: A nationally determined contributions implementation index for Africa. Frontiers in Climate, 8, 1746338. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2026.1746338

National climate policy timeline

1994

Ratification of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Côte d'Ivoire has formally joined the international framework for combating climate change. Ratification took place through decree no. 94-616 of November 14, 1994.

2005

Accession to the Kyoto Protocol

Joining the Kyoto Protocol strengthens the country's place in international mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

2011

Creation of the National Climate Change Programme (PNCC)

Created by decree no. 2011-432 of November 30, 2011, the PNCC becomes the operational body responsible for coordinating and monitoring actions related to mitigation and adaptation.

2014

National Climate Change Strategy 2015–2020

The PNCC is developing a first national strategy structured around the integration of climate into sectoral policies, adaptation, mitigation, technology transfer and climate finance.

2015 – 2016

First National Development Contract and Paris Agreement

In preparation for COP21, the first Nationally Determined Contribution set an emissions reduction target of approximately 28% by 2030 compared to the baseline scenario. Côte d'Ivoire signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016, and ratified it on October 25, 2016.

2017 – 2018

National REDD+ Strategy and Investment Framework

The National REDD+ Strategy, finalized in 2017, places the fight against deforestation and the restoration of forest cover at the heart of climate action. It was complemented in 2018 by a national investment framework designed to guide its implementation.

2022

NDC Revision

The updated NDC raises the ambition to a 30.41% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to the baseline scenario and strengthens the role of forestry, energy, agriculture and waste in mitigation measures. It also expands adaptation priorities.

2023

New Environmental Code

Law No. 2023-900 of November 23, 2023 modernizes the environmental framework and devotes a specific chapter to climate change, financing mechanisms and the responsibilities of public and private actors.

2024

Strengthening climate governance and the carbon market

Decree No. 2024-594 of June 26, 2024, establishes the National Commission for the Fight Against Climate Change (CNLCC), tasked with strengthening intersectoral coordination. Decree No. 2024-658 of August 1, 2024, simultaneously creates the Carbon Market Office, which structures the country's participation in carbon mechanisms.

2025

First specific law on climate change

Law No. 2025-528 of June 25, 2025, represents a major step: it establishes a specific legal framework for mitigation, adaptation, transparency, planning, climate finance, and carbon markets. It also distributes responsibilities between the State, local authorities, the private sector, and civil society.

CDN 3.0

The third NDC, officially submitted to the UNFCCC on October 29, 2025, sets the target at 33.07% emissions reductions by 2035 compared to the baseline scenario. With international support, the announced potential can reach 74.29%. NDC 3.0 also strengthens adaptation, a just transition, the territorialization of climate action, and the integration of new issues such as the circular economy.

The instruments studied in Ivory Coast

Carbon Market Office

Regulatory/Procedural: Operational Procedures Manual. Structuring and framing the development of the national carbon market
Learn more : Carbon Market Office
Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI)

Procedural coordination: Reducing deforestation linked to cocoa production and improving the sustainability of the sector
Learn more : Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI)

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The political and legal framework of carbon markets in Côte d'Ivoire | 394.38 KB Download

Public policies for the conservation and restoration of post-forest soils and landscapes in Côte d'Ivoire | 3.13 MB Download

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The political and legal framework of carbon markets in Côte d'Ivoire | 394.38 KB Download

Public policies for the conservation and restoration of post-forest soils and landscapes in Côte d'Ivoire | 3.13 MB Download

The political and legal framework of carbon markets in Côte d'Ivoire | 394.38 KB Download

Public policies for the conservation and restoration of post-forest soils and landscapes in Côte d'Ivoire | 3.13 MB Download

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Ivory Coast Researchers Directory

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Romy Cohen

Fieldwork in Ivory Coast | Research Intern, CIRAD | Master's Student, Sciences Po Paris
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Rozenn Nakanabo Diallo

Co-leader for Côte d'Ivoire (WP2 & WP3) | Associate Professor, Sciences Po Bordeaux
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Marie Hrabanski

Country Lead for Ivory Coast and France, WP2 & WP3 | Researcher, CIRAD
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