Marrakech, Morocco – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 participated in the “Africa Action Summit”, held on the margins of COP22 reaffirming Liberia’s commitment through its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to increase the share of renewable energy through hydro-electricity and solar power. She disclosed that the Mount Coffee Hydro Power Plant will be commissioned on December 2016 – follow by electricity supply.

According to a dispatch, the Liberian leader was speaking at the Africa Action Summit”, held on the side lines of COP22hosted in the Royal Palace in Marrakech with over 40 African heads of state and Governments including Ministers in attendance at the invitation of King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

She told the Summit that Liberia, like most of West Africa is not only threatened by climate change but now feel the effects of climate change because according to her excessive rainfall, draught, erosion from raising seas, flood and danger to animals, changing farming systems, displacement of population, particularly women farmers are disadvantaged She added that:  “Liberia has developed a climate change policy with the view to creating resilience while equally addressing national development priorities in a sustainable way”.

President Sirleaf told the gathering that Liberia is one of the major forest countries in Africa and as such Liberia’s contributions to addressing climate change is critical. She said threat to Liberia’s coastline, with serious risks to coastal cities, displacement of populations and loss of major economic benefits must be addressed.

“Despite these challenges, Liberia has made progress in combating climate change at the national level as manifested through Liberia’s draft Climate Change Policy, which seeks to strengthen national institutions, communities and initiatives that have a strong capacity for adaptation, mitigation and disaster” President Sirleaf underscored.

She, however, commended King Mohammed IV of Morocco under whose dynamic leadership the Africa Action Summit is being held on the margins of COP22 and acknowledged the crucial role of African leaders in navigating Africa towards the adoption of the milestone Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, King Mohammed VI said the Kingdom of Morocco is a committed actor in the task of consolidating regional security and stability. He said Morocco is determined to enhance its contribution to defending the vital interests of the continent, alongside sister nations and, soon, within the African Union.

“As it implements its ambitious program in the field of renewable energy, Morocco is making its expertise available to its partners” he said. King Mohammed said the Kingdom of Morocco is, today, contributing to bringing new partners on board public and private, as well as the structuring governance mechanisms.

“My country will also lead an African climate expertise network, through the Climate Change Competence Center based in Morocco” King Mohammed assert.

Touching on the  funding provided for in the Paris Agreement as of 2020, he said the Moroccan Presidency is keen to see public funding mobilized, financial arrangements diversified and access to climate funds facilitated.

The Africa Action Summit aims to examine the opportunities to achieve a strategy of common influence to the countries of the continent and to counteract the threat of climate change on the planet, which brought together the Conference of the Parties (COP22), the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, and the Parties to the Paris Agreement to make the roadmap for the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The Summit was graced by United Nations Secretary General Ben Ki-moon, France President, François Hollande and the President of the African Development Bank (AFDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina among others.

Marrakech, Morocco – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, at the head of a high-level Liberian delegation has arrived in Marrakech, Morocco to participate in the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) and the 12^th Session of the Conference of Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP12) in Bab Ighli.

According to a dispatch from Marrakech, the Liberian leader and delegation touched down at the Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca on Monday, November 14, 2016 and was met on arrival by the Minister of Culture, Mohamed Amine of Kingdom of Morocco, Liberia’s Ambassador to Morocco, Ambassador Edwin Sele, amongst others.

The Marrakech Climate Change Conference will offer an opportunity to focus and discuss strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, with the central focus placed on enhancing ambition, promoting implementation and providing support.

Meanwhile, President Sirleaf is expected to deliver a special statement on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia at the conference and as well hold talks with the King of Morocco on bilateral issues including African leaders.

STATEMENT BY ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA AT THE 22nd SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (COP 22), THE 12TH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES SERVING AS THE MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL (CMP 12) AND THE 1ST CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES SERVING AS THE MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE PARIS AGREEMENT (CMA 1)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

MARRAKECH, THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO

Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary General
Excellences, Heads of State and Government
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

I thank, His Majesty and the people of the Kingdom of Morocco for graciously hosting the first historic UN Climate Conference after the coming into force of the Paris Agreement. We appreciate the warm reception and courtesies accorded my delegation. 

I congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election as President of COP 22.  We have confidence in your leadership and optimism that the outcomes of Marrakech will provide a comprehensive plan of action for implementation of the Paris Agreement.

We thank the outgoing President of COP 21 under whose stewardship the Paris Agreement was consummated and we acknowledge the pivotal role of the UN Secretary General, BAN Ki-moon in steering the world to adoption of the landmark Paris Climate Change Agreement. 

Mr. President,

Climate change poses enormous threats to mankind and nature. It threatens human health and wellbeing of mankind.

If nothing is done to mitigate the negative impact and its vulnerability, the gains made by mankind could be seriously undermined if not reversed.              

Mr. President,

Liberia continues to experience severe impacts of climate change due to erratic rainfall, flooding and sea erosion. More than 70% of Liberia’s population relies on agriculture for subsistence livelihood. The sector also contributes almost 39% to the country’s GDP.  Recent predictions indicate that the sector will be heavily impacted thus posing a risk to the economy and livelihood of the population. 

Moreover, coastal erosion represents a significant threat to Liberia’s shoreline, with serious risks to coastal cities, displacement of populations and loss of major economic assets.

Despite these challenges, we have made progress in combating climate change at the national level. Liberia’s draft Climate Change Policy intends to strengthen national institutions, communities and initiatives that have a strong capacity for adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction.

In mitigation, we have set aside almost 20% of our national forest as protected area. This serves as a hub for carbon sequestration and protection of our biodiversity which includes threatened and endangered species. 

Liberia commits, through its Nationally Determined Contribution, to increase the share of renewable energy through hydro-electricity and solar power. There is still a need to do more, to address Goals One and Two of the SDGs.

Mr. President,

 At the regional level, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has established a Climate Change Unit within the Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources Department to oversee the implementation of a robust Climate Change Action Program. This Program aims at reducing vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in the sub-region. 

A study shows that large parts of West Africa will be seriously affected by the negative impact of climate change with a strong variability of rainfall, the disappearance of animal and tree species and the recurrence of calamities such as flood, storms and drought.

A key priority of our sub-region is the strengthening of capacities to mobilize much needed resources to implement Member States commitment in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).  We are pleased that one year after the signing of the Paris Agreement, 11 of the 15 countries in ECOWAS have ratified the Agreement.  Liberia has made it 12.

Mr. President,

Pledges made so far under the Paris Agreement are insufficient to achieve targets for reducing global temperature to 2 degrees Celsius.

We therefore call for speedy actions to implement the Paris Agreement to address global environmental challenges, to support developing countries in the formulation and implementation of national adaptation plans, the development of gender action plans in the agriculture sector and the acquisition of climate change technology.

 Let us go forward from Marrakesh with renewed determination and collective will to harmonize our approaches for implementation of the Paris Agreement. Let us respond to the challenges of climate change and make this world a better place for current and future generations.