By Godgift Harris
Liberia is set to participate in the upcoming COP30 Climate Conference in Brazil, with the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Urey Yarkpawolo, stressing that genuine progress in addressing climate change depends on the active involvement of local communities.
Speaking on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism’s (MICAT) regular press briefing, Mr. Yarkpawolo described climate change as one of the most pressing threats facing underdeveloped nations like Liberia.
He pointed to the country’s worsening environmental challenges including deforestation, coastal erosion, flooding, and poor waste management as clear evidence of the urgent need for community-centered climate action.
“Climate change conversations must begin at the grassroots level if we are to see real and lasting results,” Mr. Yarkpawolo stated.
He emphasized that Liberia’s participation in international forums like COP30 would be futile if the people most affected by environmental degradation rural and coastal communities are excluded from the decision-making process.
The EPA boss called on national policymakers, development partners, and international allies to ensure that Liberia’s climate programs are inclusive, community-driven, and sustainable.
He said the nation’s presence at COP30 should go beyond mere attendance and focus on producing tangible outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Environmental analysts have welcomed the EPA’s stance, describing it as timely amid Liberia’s ongoing struggles with weak environmental enforcement, unregulated mining, and unchecked deforestation.
They urged the government to translate policy rhetoric into practical action by empowering rural communities, enforcing environmental laws, and investing in renewable energy and conservation programs.
Meanwhile, Mr. Yarkpawolo revealed that Liberia will host a National Pavilion at COP30, where the country will showcase its climate actions, highlight progress in forest conservation, and promote resilient community development initiatives.
The pavilion, he said, will also serve as a platform to build new partnerships and attract international support for Liberia’s climate priorities.
COP30, scheduled to take place in Brazil, will bring together world leaders, environmental experts and development organizations to discuss global climate commitments and strategies for achieving sustainable development.
