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Monrovia – Amid the increasing global quest to combat climate change, discussions on the outcome of COP28 have intensified among stakeholders working on climate change and environmental issues in Liberia. These discussions are being spearheaded by the Liberian Youth for Climate Action (LYCA), a non-profit environmental organization in Liberia.
The Post-COP28 Multi-Stakeholders Conference aims to empower and mobilize young individuals, transforming discussions into actionable plans for a more sustainable future. This initiative provides a platform for informed dialogue and collaborative planning, amplifying the role of youth in driving positive change in the post-COP28 landscape. The conference focuses on reviewing all agreements and commitments made during COP28 and identifying new opportunities for Liberian youths to pursue sustainable actions.
The interactive dialogue brought together about 56 participants from academia, NGOs, government entities, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to form a unified body. This group aims to highlight the outcomes and importance of COP28 and ensure its full implementation and benefits for Liberia.
Ezekiel Nyanfor, Executive Director of LYCA, emphasized the importance of the initiative for Liberia. “To meaningfully increase awareness and knowledge of youth about climate change activities, we must unpack the UAE Consensus. The 28th Conference of Parties concluded the first Global Stock take under the Paris Agreement, sending a crucial signal on fossil fuels being the root cause of climate change and the need to transition away from them.”
He continues: “There are still loopholes and a lack of clarity in other areas of climate action, such as adaptation and finance. What matters now is implementation at the domestic level, preparing the next round of commitments (NDCs) by 2025, spurring international cooperation, and rethinking the future of these conferences.”
He noted that while the government attends these conferences annually to discuss climate change and environmental protection, COP28 is regarded as the largest international climate change conference. Last year, the conference attracted over forty-one thousand participants, making it the second-largest gathering after the UN General Assembly.
As a youth group, LYCA has been hosting activities such as post-COP26 events sponsored by ActionAid Liberia. During these meetings, stakeholders discussed the role of international partners in driving solutions to combat climate change in Liberia. Other issues included the role of non-state actors in ensuring world leaders are held accountable at COP28 to achieve the best outcomes. Liberian youth shared their impact, experiences, and lessons learned from attending these international conferences, preparing themselves for future engagements.
The conference was sponsored by ActionAid Liberia. Elizabeth Johnson, ActionAid Liberia country director, noted that climate change is a global issue, and noted that her organization was glad to sponsor the youth-led organization’s initiative.
Faith C. Smith, Gender Advocacy and Communication Coordinator of ForumCiV, highlighted that women have historically been marginalized in environmental issues. She emphasized that promoting women’s rights is not only a social justice issue but also essential for global efforts to combat climate change. “We must ensure that women have access to resources they are lobbying for, as this benefits struggling countries like Liberia,” Smith added.
Arthur R.M. Becker, EPA Project Officer in the Department of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, acknowledged the importance of reflecting on the outcomes of COP28 to accelerate implementation efforts. “As a government, we are committed to ensuring that all outcomes from COP28 are actualized. This requires a collective effort and the support of the majority of the population,” Becker stated. He highlighted the pivotal roles of young people, international development partners, the private sector, and the media in achieving these goals.
The European Union Deputy Head of Mission-Liberia, Anders Anderson, underscored the key role youths play in addressing climate change. “We need a renewed commitment to multilateralism and a renewed spirit to respond collectively to the challenges we face,” Anderson said. He pointed out that climate adaptation is becoming increasingly important in Liberia, and the EU is working in partnership with countries worldwide, dedicating significant funds to international climate finance, including adaptation finance.
This gathering comes at a crucial time as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change prepares for the mid-term review of the process, scheduled for June 3rd to 15th. This will be the 60th edition of the subsidiary body meetings in Germany, setting the agenda for COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Liberia, as a committed party to the UN framework convention, is poised to fulfill its commitments and ensure the full implementation of COP28 outcomes.