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(Monrovia, Liberia, February 20, 2025) – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, in collaboration with its partners, has concluded a technical stocktake meeting aimed at reviewing the country’s progress in achieving its climate commitments under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 2.0. The event, held at the United Nations Building in Monrovia, took place in the Kofi Annan Conference Room.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, development partners, and private sector representatives, who engaged in discussions to assess progress, identify challenges, and propose solutions ahead of the launch of Liberia’s updated NDC 3.0 in March 2025.
Delivering a summary of the discussions, Atty. Urias Goll, one of the consultants on the NDC stocktake report, emphasized that the review exercise had provided a clear picture of Liberia’s achievements and the hurdles that remain in its climate action efforts. He stressed that the insights gained from the meeting would be instrumental in shaping the country’s next steps in tackling climate change.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Louis Kuukpen, Deputy Resident Representative for the Program, reiterated the importance of sustained collaboration in advancing Liberia’s climate ambitions. He noted that while Liberia had set an ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 64% by 2030, achieving this goal would require continuous financial and technical support.
“This event has been a significant step in reaffirming our commitment to climate action. As we close this stocktake meeting, I urge all stakeholders to take ownership of Liberia’s climate commitments and work collectively to ensure that we achieve our targets,” Kuukpen stated.
He also commended the leadership of the EPA, particularly Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, for his dedication to steering Liberia’s climate agenda forward. Additionally, he called on development partners to align their support with Liberia’s national climate priorities and urged the private sector to invest in sustainable initiatives.
Representing the EPA, Arthur R.M. Becker, Director of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for their active participation and reaffirmed Liberia’s dedication to fighting climate change. He acknowledged that while Liberia had made commendable pledges, including cutting emissions and reducing deforestation, success would depend on collective efforts.
“The insights shared over the past sessions will guide us in strengthening Liberia’s climate strategies. We now have a clearer understanding of the gaps that need to be addressed, and as we move toward the development of NDC 3.0, we will build on these discussions to set more concrete sectoral targets,” Becker said.
He reiterated that the stocktake process was not just about reporting progress but about finding actionable solutions to the challenges identified. He also encouraged stakeholders to remain engaged and contribute their expertise in shaping Liberia’s updated climate commitments.
“As we close this chapter of NDC 2.0 and prepare for NDC 3.0, let us continue to work together, mobilize the necessary resources, and ensure that Liberia stays on course to meet its climate targets,” he added.
Abraham T. Tumbey Jr., Program Coordinator of Inclusive Green Growth at the UNDP, described the event as a significant milestone in Liberia’s climate action journey. He reaffirmed the UNDP’s unwavering support for the EPA and other stakeholders involved in driving climate action efforts in the country.
The stocktake report presented at the meeting highlighted progress in integrating climate action into national development plans but also pointed to key challenges, including limited financial resources, technical capacity gaps, and coordination issues among institutions.
As part of the way forward, stakeholders recommended strengthening Liberia’s climate strategies, improving policy frameworks, and securing additional funding and technical assistance to meet the country’s climate goals.
With the NDC 3.0 update process set to begin soon, stakeholders committed to continued collaboration to ensure Liberia remains on track in delivering on its climate commitments.
