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By Joseph Titus Yekeryan
Sanniquellei, Nimba County – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, has underscored the critical link between environmental protection and public health, emphasizing that reducing pollution and improving air quality are essential to building healthier and more resilient communities.
Speaking at Liberia’s observance of World Environment Day on Friday in Sanniqullei, Nimba County, Dr. Yarkpawolo described environmental protection as a shared responsibility requiring the collective efforts of government institutions, local communities, businesses, and individual citizens.
He called on Liberians to adopt sustainable practices, responsibly manage waste, and actively contribute to preserving the nation’s natural resources for future generations.
The EPA Executive Director also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with national and international stakeholders to expand environmental awareness and intensify efforts to address pollution and climate-related challenges.
Delivering the keynote address, environmental advocate Mr. John H. T. Steward described the occasion as a “call to action,” highlighting the devastating impact of plastic waste on ecosystems, wildlife, public health, and livelihoods.
Mr. Steward warned that the indiscriminate disposal of plastic materials continues to clog waterways, contaminate communities, and accelerate environmental degradation across Liberia.
He called for stronger public awareness campaigns, improved waste management systems, increased recycling initiatives, and greater individual responsibility in reducing plastic consumption.
According to him, meaningful progress can only be achieved when citizens move beyond discussions and embrace practical actions that protect the environment and promote sustainable development.
Liberia joined countries around the world in commemorating the 53rd World Environment Day amid renewed calls for urgent climate action, environmental protection, and stronger measures to combat pollution and safeguard public health.
The observance comes at a time when United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the world is facing an unprecedented environmental crisis, with the past eleven years recorded as the hottest period in human history.
In his global message marking the occasion, Guterres noted that climate change is accelerating at an alarming pace, resulting in widespread environmental degradation, polluted air, collapsing ecosystems, and increasing threats to vulnerable populations worldwide.
“The world is heading toward a 1.5-degree temperature overshoot,” the UN Secretary-General warned, urging governments, businesses, and citizens to act decisively by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating the transition to renewable energy, cutting methane pollution, and fulfilling international climate finance commitments.
Meanwhile, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. officially proclaimed June 5, 2026, as World Environment Day in Liberia and called on all citizens to actively participate in efforts aimed at protecting the nation’s environment.
In his proclamation, President Boakai emphasized that the annual observance provides an important opportunity to focus national attention on environmental sustainability while empowering citizens to become agents of positive change.
The President highlighted plastic pollution as a growing threat to communities and ecosystems across the country and stressed the need for urgent action.
“It is therefore our responsibility to find suitable ways to end or mitigate this act of pollution within our environment,” President Boakai declared, while encouraging Liberians to support activities organized by the EPA in observance of the day.
This year’s celebration was observed under the global theme, “Climate Action,” and the national theme, “Clean Air, Good Health.”
As Liberia joins the global community in commemorating World Environment Day, environmental stakeholders say the message remains clear: protecting the environment is no longer a choice but an urgent necessity.
With climate change intensifying and pollution threatening both human health and ecosystems, the observance serves as a reminder that the actions taken today will shape the quality of life for future generations.
The day also reinforces a growing global consensus that cleaner air, healthier communities, and a more resilient planet can only be achieved through collective commitment, responsible environmental stewardship, and sustained climate action.
