Presidency

H. E. Joseph N. Boakai, Sr.

President of Liberia

H. E. Zegben J. K. Koung

Vice President of Liberia

LIBERIA’S POLICY AND RESPONSE STRATEGY ON CLIMATE CHANGE VALIDATED

Stakeholders have validated Liberia’s National Policy and Response Strategy on Climate Change. This means, Liberia now has a national policy and Response strategy that accounts for its adaptation and mitigation measures to climate change.

Addressing stakeholders at the validation exercise, EPA Executive Director Madam Anyaa Vohiri,  says Global climate is changing regularly as a result of the increasing trends of global warming due to natural and anthropogenic activities.

“Anyone that seeks to find further evidence of climate change in Liberia today, may just need to take a few steps from here to West Point or D. Tweh High School. The scars of sea erosion are very glaring and the impacts on socioeconomic activities and livelihood cannot be overemphasized. Flooding and pests invasion in the agriculture sector are also visible.  Our farmers are challenged by the dilemma of when to engage in their different farming activities that are heavily dependent on rainfall and other climatic factors.”

Madam Vohiri, highlighting the 2009 army worm scenario as a classic example of disturbance in the agricultural sector, said With about 70 percent of the economically active population engaged in agricultural activities and agriculture accounting for significant percent of our national GDP, climate change could affect livelihood significantly and result in a loss of GDP that could have a ripple effect on the economy of Liberia.

She quotes Local and international experts   climate reports as saying Liberia’s future climate for 2050 and 2080 will be characterized by a warmer and wetter climate in most parts of the country, with variability in rainfall and some areas drier than current.

According to Madam Vohiri, Global climate change if left unchecked, could leave millions of the world’s  population vulnerable to flooding as a result of sea level rise and as well  result to the loss of vulnerable ecosystems with the risks of extinction of certain species.

The validation forum was attended by the relevant line ministries and agencies as well as civil society organizations.