Monrovia – The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, has called on Liberian youth to take the lead in driving the country’s climate action agenda as the nation prepares for the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Speaking during the National Consultation on the Liberia Youth Climate Agenda held in Monrovia, Dr. Yarkpawolo urged young people to transform the climate crisis into an opportunity for innovation, leadership, and sustainable development.
Dr. Yarkpawolo said the current generation of young people is living at a defining moment in human history—one marked by both danger and possibility. He noted that youth across the world are facing the harsh realities of climate change, including floods, droughts, heatwaves, and storms that threaten their future.
“Across the world, young people are on the frontlines of climate change. They are witnessing floods that wash away their schools, droughts that destroy their farms, heatwaves that threaten their health, and storms that uproot their futures,” he said. He cited United Nations data showing that more than 1.2 billion youth live in countries most vulnerable to climate impacts.
According to the EPA boss, this crisis also presents a unique opportunity for young people to lead the global transition toward a greener, fairer, and more resilient world.
“In every crisis, there is an opportunity,” he said. “And for youth, the opportunity is to lead the transition toward a greener, fairer, and more innovative world—to build businesses in renewable energy, to pioneer waste recycling, to restore degraded lands, and to become climate diplomats who speak not just for themselves but for generations yet unborn.”
Highlighting Liberia’s commitments under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in September 2025, Dr. Yarkpawolo said the country has pledged to reduce its national emissions by 64% by 2035.
He explained that this includes a 10% unconditional target financed through domestic resources and a 54% conditional target dependent on international support for climate finance, technology, and capacity building. “Liberia stands shoulder to shoulder with the global community in confronting this challenge,” he stated.
Dr. Yarkpawolo stressed that the country’s NDC is not only about figures but about people, especially the youth, who are central to its implementation. “Our NDC 3.0 explicitly recognizes that youth are central to climate action,” he said.
He outlined the government’s commitments to create 5,000 green jobs in renewable energy, waste management, and sustainable agriculture; appoint a youth representative to the National Climate Change Steering Committee; integrate climate education into all school curricula; and empower young people through entrepreneurship and innovation to drive climate solutions.
“These are not empty promises,” he emphasized. “They are the foundation for the Liberia you will inherit—and the Liberia you must build.”
Dr. Yarkpawolo praised young Liberians who are already leading innovative initiatives across the country, turning environmental challenges into business opportunities. He pointed to local youth groups converting plastic waste into fashionable products like backpacks and computer bags.
“Across Monrovia and other cities, young Liberians are turning sachet plastic waste into fashionable backpacks and computer bags,” he said. “What once polluted our streets and clogged our drains is now being transformed into beautiful products that generate income, promote recycling, and protect our environment.”
He said such creativity should inspire others to find solutions that link environmental protection with economic empowerment. “This is the spirit we need: innovation born out of necessity, entrepreneurship born out of challenge, and hope born out of action,” he said.
“Imagine if every young Liberian found a way to turn a climate problem into a business solution—recycling waste, producing solar lanterns, cultivating climate-smart farms, or restoring mangrove forests. That is how you move from being victims of climate change to becoming architects of resilience and prosperity.”
Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized that innovation alone is not enough and that youth must also use their voices to ensure that Liberia’s NDC commitments are implemented, especially the conditional targets that rely on international support.
“We need your voices and advocacy to ensure that the NDC 3.0 is fully implemented—especially the 54% conditional aspect,” he said. “You are not just beneficiaries; you are partners in implementation.”
He urged young Liberians to use national and global platforms to push for accountability, transparency, and greater investment in climate action. “When you speak up—whether in classrooms, communities, or global spaces—you remind the world that Liberia’s young people are ready to lead,” he said. “Your advocacy can influence donors, shape national priorities, and hold institutions accountable. You can ensure that resources meant for green growth reach the ground where they can change lives.”
Dr. Yarkpawolo announced that Liberia will host a national pavilion at COP30 in Brazil to showcase the country’s progress, innovations, and commitment to building a resilient future. He encouraged youth to participate actively in shaping the country’s presentation at the global summit.
“I want to encourage you today: plan youth-led activities for our national pavilion. Bring your creativity, your art, your innovations, and your voices to the global stage. Show the world that Liberian youth are not waiting for change—they are driving it,” he said.
Dr. Yarkpawolo called on young people to take responsibility for protecting Liberia’s environment and shaping the country’s sustainable future. “The future is not something we wait for—it is something we create,” he said. “You have the power to make this NDC a living document, not a report sitting on a shelf. You have the power to turn every climate challenge into an opportunity for leadership, business, and service.”
He urged youth to rise as a generation of climate champions who are bold, innovative, and united in action. “Let us rise together as one generation of climate champions—youth who are bold enough to innovate, courageous enough to act, and united enough to change Liberia’s story from vulnerability to victory,” he said.
Quoting President Joseph Boakai, he reminded the audience of their duty to preserve the planet. “We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors; it is on loan to us from our children,” he quoted. “So let us return it better than we found it.”
Dr. Yarkpawolo expressed optimism about Liberia’s participation in COP30 and the critical role young people will play in advancing the nation’s climate resilience. “I look forward to seeing your ideas shine at COP30 and beyond,” he said. “Long live the youth of Liberia. Long live our planet. Long live Liberia.”
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