Government of Liberia Holds National Conference on Climate Change

June 3, 2021

President Weah pose with some guests and partners attending the confab on climate change.

A three-day National Conference on the Environment and Climate Change commenced on June 2, 2021 at the Ministerial Complex in Monrovia under the theme, “Ecosystem Restoration – a pathway towards a greener and more sustainable environment for the implementation of Liberia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).”

The NDC is Liberia’s contribution to climate change mitigation and adaption under the Paris Agreement of which Liberia is a signatory. The European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Conservation International (CI) are the lead contributors in this effort.

In his special address and official opening of the conference, President George Manneh Weah called upon all citizens and foreigners in Liberia to work together for a cleaner and more sustainable environment.

“Prominent challenges ranging from destruction of our wetlands to perennial flooding, contamination of our water bodies and beaches, and indiscriminate dumping of waste; which is now visible in our cities, towns and villages, are undermining Liberia’s effort in attaining Sustainable Development Goals and in particular the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). In spite of all these challenges, I, George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, pledge my fullest support and that of my government to the EPA in the faithful fulfillment of its mandate,” he said.

In his welcome message, Professor Wilson K. Tarpeh, EPA Executive Director/CEO said, “The EPA cannot do it alone and will therefore count on the cooperation, collaboration and support of all stakeholders.”

At the official opening, key members of the diplomatic corps were in attendance including the American, British, Chinese and Swedish Ambassadors. The US Ambassador to Liberia, Michael A. McCarthy, said, “President Biden has called the climate crisis the number one issue facing humanity. In an effort to help Liberia save the environment and reduce climate change impacts, the United States government through USAID, has invested more than 45 million dollars in the forest sector.”

In his special remarks, the UK Ambassador to Liberia, Neil Bradley, said, “Last year and the last decade were the hottest ever recorded, hence, we need to mobilize funds from developed nations based on their collective commitment, which is to raise 100 billion US dollars per year. The UK’s international climate change fund will be contributing 17 billion US dollars to help developing countries, including Liberia, tackle climate change over the next 5 years.”

Adding to the pledges of Liberia’s international partners, the Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, Ingrid Wetterqvist said, “The government of Sweden will invest over 212 million US dollars in climate change related development projects in Liberia over the next 5 years.”

The first panel discussion was about political will, climate change financing and how the benefits of the forest sector will trickle down to the ordinary people.  

EPA and its partners including the EU, UNDP and Conservation International (CI) are making efforts to increase national participation in climate change actions and reinforce the inclusion of other government agencies, the private sector, youth, women, academia, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the validation of Liberia’s revised NDC..