Monrovia – The National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCCL) today wrapped up a one-day interactive stocktake consultative meeting on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), a process central to Liberia’s commitment under the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts.
By Julius Konton, contributing writer
NDCs are nationally defined pledges outlining each country’s planned actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience, and mobilize financial flows. They also address loss and damage associated with adverse climate impacts that are no longer avoidable.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), reaffirmed Liberia’s ambitious climate goals. He announced that the country is committed to reducing its economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 64% below the projected business-as-usual level by 2030. In addition, Liberia aims to cut its national deforestation rate by 50% and reduce GHG emissions by 1,800 Gg CO₂e per year by limiting forest management concessions to 1.6 hectares by 2030. Dr. Yarkpawolo also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve national policies that incentivize sustainable production of fuel wood and charcoal.
Every country is required to review and update its NDC every five years to reflect increased ambition and evolving capacities for climate action. In Liberia, the EPA is collaborating with representatives from nine key sectors—Agriculture, Coastal Zone, Fisheries, Energy, Forestry, Health, Industry, Waste, and Transportation—to align their targets with the country’s NDC objectives.
Dr. Yarkpawolo called on civil society organizations (CSOs) to actively participate in the process. “We want the stocktake to be an ongoing process that informs the development of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the next NDC phase,” he said, adding that the EPA would work to ensure that project targets align with the NDC in a robust and measurable manner.
Loretta Pop Kai, Chairperson of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, underscored the crucial role that CSOs play in advancing climate action and holding the government accountable. “Liberia’s NDC represents the country’s commitment to advancing climate change action and building a sustainable future for all. CSOs should continue to advocate for ambitious targets, increase transparency, and ensure meaningful engagement of all stakeholders in implementing the NDC,” she said. “Together we can drive positive change and ensure that Liberia fulfills its commitment for the benefit of our country and future generations.”
UNDP team leader Dorsla Farcarthy also addressed the gathering, welcoming Liberia’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 64% below business as usual by 2030. He noted that achieving such ambitious targets would require coordinated efforts, adequate funding, and inclusive participation. Farcarthy highlighted the UNDP’s support through the Climate Promise Initiative, which has aided Liberia in developing a national sustainable financing strategy and implementation plan to address sectoral actions and fill gaps in the current implementation process.
“The primary purpose of the NDC stocktake is to comprehensively assess our national progress towards the Paris Agreement pledges, identify challenges, and outline recommendations for the next NDC round,” Farcarthy explained. He stressed that CSO engagement is vital to bridging policy and practice, ensuring that climate action reaches vulnerable communities, and building capacity and resilience among the most at-risk populations.
The consultative meeting concluded with the adoption of several key recommendations to inform the next phase of Liberia’s NDC process. The collaborative spirit exhibited at the meeting reinforces the critical role of CSOs as technical supporters, advocates, and watchdogs in the national and international climate action arena.
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