COP 29: Liberia Calls for Global Funding to Tackle the Climate Impact
By: Franklin N. Kwenah
At the ongoing COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Government of Liberia has urged the international community to step up financial support to help the country address the severe effects of climate change.
Dr Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), highlighted the challenges facing Liberia, including coastal erosion, deforestation, and the vulnerability of its highland forests.
He called for increased funding to support Liberia’s ambitious climate resilience plan.
“Climate change has hit Liberia hard, with intense droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and worsening coastal erosion,” said Dr Urey Yarkpawolo. “Our coastal cities—like Monrovia’s West Point, Buchanan, and Greenville—are experiencing serious erosion and rising sea levels.”
Liberia, one of the least developed countries, is rich in natural resources and holds over 40% of West Africa’s remaining forests.
However, its vulnerability to climate change poses significant risks to food production and livelihoods.
Dr Urey Yarkpawolo outlined Liberia’s five-year development plan, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which prioritizes climate adaptation and resilience. Implementing this plan, however, will require $7 billion—resources the country currently lacks.
“We are asking wealthier nations to turn their climate commitments into real action,” he said. “Climate pledges must translate into tangible improvements in Liberia and other vulnerable nations.”
Liberia’s appeal echoes the demands of many developing countries at COP29, seeking stronger financial and technical support to tackle the climate crisis.
Climate and Security: A Link in Liberia’s Climate Plans
Liberia is also pushing for the integration of climate change and security considerations into its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
At a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) side event at COP29, Arthur R. M. Becker, Head of Multilateral Environmental Agreements at Liberia’s EPA, stressed that climate policies must address the connection between climate impacts and social stability.
“Climate change can worsen tensions and create instability,” Becker said. “We must integrate peace and security perspectives into our climate plans to address the complex challenges posed by climate change, particularly in conflict-prone areas.”
Becker emphasized that environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and social unrest are interlinked.
He warned that failing to address these connections could result in ineffective policies that do not tackle underlying vulnerabilities.
“To achieve lasting results, it’s essential to engage local communities, civil society, and government agencies to ensure inclusive planning,” he said.
Becker also advocated for enhanced data collection to better understand how climate vulnerabilities contribute to conflict. He suggested embedding peacebuilding goals within Liberia’s NDCs and NAPs to address both environmental and social needs.
“Monitoring both environmental outcomes and social indicators of peace and stability is crucial,” Becker noted.
Global Action on Climate Change
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) urges countries to collaborate in tackling climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to its impacts.
Through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), nations outline their efforts to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming “well below” 2°C and striving to limit it to 1.5°C.
As Dr Urey Yarkpawolo and Becker are emphasizing at COP29, addressing climate change in vulnerable nations like Liberia requires not only financial commitments but also integrating climate resilience with peacebuilding and sustainable development.
“Countries like Liberia are on the frontlines of this crisis,” Dr Urey Yarkpawolo said. “Without urgent support, we risk losing not just lives and livelihoods, but the hope of a sustainable future for generations to come.”
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