Liberia set to launch National Policy and Response Strategy on Climate Change
Grammer school students from the Herman Gmeiner High School in SOS Village, Matadi Estate, Monrovia, play on a swing set during an outreach event. UNMIL Photo/Staton Winter
14 August 2018, Monrovia - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the National Adaptation Plans project funded by the Green Climate Fund will on Wednesday, August 15, 2018, launch the National Policy & Response Strategy on Climate Change by 11am at the Bella Casa Hotel in Sinkor, Monrovia. The event will be attended by high level policy makers and representatives from government entities, partners, representatives of the donor community, international and local NGOs, women and youth groups, and research and academic institutions. Following the official launch, copies of the policy will be distributed amongst participants and posted on the EPA website.
The policy was developed with the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa beginning September 2016. It was subsequently validated on January 27, 2017 at a national stakeholders meeting.
While it is true that Liberia’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is insignificant, the effects of global warming are having dire consequences on national development efforts and could increase the current challenges in alleviating poverty.
The climate change policy will ensure that a qualitative, effective and coherent climate change adaptation process takes place. It will serve as the pillar for comprehensive sectoral strategies and action plans. This policy seeks to enable better coordination of climate change work in the country and provides opportunities for cooperation and collaboration between the government and stakeholders. This policy provides further impetus to past and ongoing efforts which Liberia is engaged in, including the National Adaptation Plans and Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), submitted prior to the signing of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
On the sidelines of the launch of the National Policy & Response Strategy on Climate Change, the UNDP, EPA and University of Liberia will sign an agreement stating support for the setting up of a graduate program in environmental science at the University of Liberia through the National Adaptation Plans project with funding from the Green Climate Fund. The program’s mission is to prepare students to address the social and biophysical complexities of environmental problems. Along with the required core courses, the program will draw upon the strengths of current programs and resources to develop a unique program that combines the features of interdisciplinary, environmental literacy, integration of qualitative and quantitative skills, and problem solving in the context of climate change resilience and adaptability.