A delegation from the United States Government on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA), Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh.
The US Government team included Ian Winborne, National Resources Officer at USAID, Ivan Kamara, Economic Officer at the US Embassy in Monrovia, Paul Oliver, an Economist at the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment at USAID and John R. Pasch, Director at USAID Economic Growth Office.
The team was met on arrival at the EPA by Chief Technical Adviser, Benjamin Karmorh and Teddy P. Taylor, Youth and Climate Change Coordinator at the EPA.
The visit was prompted by a communication from Mr. Taylor, who is also the National Focal Point for Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) for Liberia.
During a brief discussion, the visiting US delegation lauded Prof. Tarpeh for the level of work being done at the EPA and assured that climate change and other environmental issues would be an integral part of the US Government’s agenda.
The team also promised to participate in a planned National Environment Conference, following a request from Prof. Tarpeh.
Prof. Tarpeh was upbeat about the US Government returned to the Paris Climate Change Agreement and extended appreciation to President Joe Biden for reversing the previous administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 accord, which seeks to limit global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The EPA Boss also asked the US Government to assist the EPA with the provision of tangible capacity development for the institution and its staff members.
Prof. Tarpeh said that his administration would bring the young people on board because according to him “if this generation understand the importance of the environment the better it is for the country and the fight against climate change.”