By Vaye Abel Lepolu
Liberia is gearing up to make a strong impression at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), slated for Belém, Brazil, under the theme “Forests, Oceans, and Just Transitions.”
Addressing members of the press in Monrovia, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, emphasized that this year’s conference presents a historic opportunity for Liberia to demonstrate its global environmental significance as one of the planet’s vital carbon sinks.
“We are not just victims of climate change; we are custodians of the world’s natural lungs and partners in global climate solutions,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “Protecting Liberia’s forests, wetlands, and marine ecosystems is protecting the planet itself.”
Liberia will participate in COP30 with a high-level delegation led by Hon. Augustine K. Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, representing the Government and People of Liberia. The delegation will highlight the nation’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), a renewed climate plan committing to a 64% emission reduction by 2035.
According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, the government’s focus at COP30 aligns with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which links climate action to economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.
A centerpiece of Liberia’s participation will be the establishment of a National Pavilion — a vibrant platform showcasing the country’s rich biodiversity, vast forest cover, and growing opportunities in the green and blue economy.
“Liberia contains 43% of West Africa’s forest cover and extensive mangrove ecosystems,” the EPA Boss noted. “That makes our nation the ‘Third Lung of the World,’ absorbing millions of tons of carbon that help cool our planet.”
However, the Pavilion will also serve as a hub for information on Liberia’s climate policies, investment prospects, and the nation’s role in global forest and ocean conservation.
One of the most anticipated highlights at COP30 will be Liberia’s new Carbon Market Policy, which is in its final stages of review. This policy establishes a national framework to regulate carbon trading, ensure fair benefit-sharing with local communities, and align with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Dr. Yarkpawolo revealed that Liberia, in collaboration with the UNDP, UNCDF, and other development partners, has developed its first Natural Capital Atlas a groundbreaking document mapping Liberia’s forests, rivers, minerals, and biodiversity hotspots. The Atlas, he said, demonstrates that Liberia’s natural capital is its greatest asset for sustainable development.
Meanwhile, In preparation for the global event, the EPA will convene a National Delegation Meeting on Friday, October 31, 2025, at the University of Liberia Climate Change Laboratory, followed by a High-Level Inter-Ministerial and Legislative Meeting on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the Farmington Hotel, Margibi County. These gatherings aim to harmonize Liberia’s policy positions and ensure a united national representation at COP30.
At COP30, key topics will include carbon markets, climate finance for loss and damage, forest and ocean conservation, and just transition pathways for developing nations. For Liberia, Dr. Yarkpawolo stressed, these negotiations will determine how the country accesses climate finance, implements its carbon market policy, and creates green jobs for young people.
He also disclosed that Liberia’s ongoing climate projects ,such as the West Point coastal defense, early warning systems for farmers, and environmental monitoring programs , have received millions in international support through climate negotiations and partnerships.
As COP30 draws near, the EPA Executive Director called on the international community to stand with Liberia in protecting one of the world’s last remaining rainforests.
“Liberia is taking real action to safeguard the planet’s lungs. From forest patrols in Sapo National Park to new coastal defense projects, we are turning climate talk into tangible results,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said.
He concluded by reaffirming Liberia’s commitment to sustainable development, noting that the nation’s participation at COP30 is not just about advocacy, it’s about partnership, investment, and shared global responsibility.
