By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Belém, Brazil – Liberia has renewed its call for global solidarity and sustainable financing to support tropical forest conservation and climate resilience efforts, as Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, delivered a statement on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, at the COP30 Leaders’ Summit in Belém, Brazil.
Speaking before world leaders and climate negotiators, Dr. Yarkpawolo expressed Liberia’s gratitude to the Government and people of Brazil for hosting what he described as a “landmark COP” in the heart of the Amazon.
He praised Brazil’s leadership in forest stewardship and climate diplomacy, emphasizing that tropical forests such as the Amazon and the Upper Guinean Forest must be preserved “if humanity is to sustain its future.”
“Liberia holds over 43 percent of the remaining Upper Guinean Forests of West Africa — one of the planet’s most critical biodiversity hotspots,” Dr. Yarkpawolo stated. “These forests are not merely national assets; they are global lungs — capturing carbon, regulating rainfall, and supporting food and water security across the sub-region.”
He stressed that protecting Liberia’s forests is not only a national responsibility but a global imperative, noting that their conservation is essential to regional and global environmental stability.
Highlighting the country’s progress under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), Liberia has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 64 percent by 2035.
However, Dr. Yarkpawolo acknowledged that achieving this target requires more than ambition—it demands sustained financial investment.
“The gap between our vision and available climate finance remains wide, threatening the progress we have made toward adaptation, renewable energy, and sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
To bridge that gap, Liberia threw its support behind the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF)—a new global initiative designed to provide sustainable, performance-based financing for countries that protect and manage their forests responsibly.
“For Liberia, this initiative represents hope — hope that our commitment to conservation will be met with predictable financial support,” Dr. Yarkpawolo affirmed. “With the right financial frameworks, protecting nature and pursuing development can advance hand in hand.”
The EPA boss also emphasized the alignment of Liberia’s climate action with President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which prioritizes Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism.
He described the approach as “climate justice in practice,” ensuring that environmental protection contributes directly to improving the lives of Liberians.
Additionally, Dr. Yarkpawolo highlighted Liberia’s National Carbon Market Policy, which guarantees that benefits from carbon trade are shared equitably with indigenous peoples and local communities.
“As we gather here in Belém,” he concluded, “let us not forget that the world’s forests — from the Amazon to the Congo to the Upper Guinean — are not merely landscapes; they are lifelines.
The Paris Agreement must now be fully implemented — not in speeches, but in financing, technology, and capacity support that empower countries like Liberia.”
He called on COP30 to mark a turning point where “promises become progress,” reaffirming Liberia’s readiness to lead with integrity and partner with the world in building a more just, resilient, and sustainable planet.
