Ahead of the official opening of the Twenty-ninth section of the Conference of the Parties (COP29), the head of the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo has arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan Republic.

Dr. Yarkpawolo is accompanied by his Chief Technical Advisor and UNFCCC focal Point, Mr. Benjamin Karmorh, Mr. Elijah Z. Whapoe , National Climate Change Secretariat Coordinator and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement focal point at the EPA as well as the Manager for Multilateral Environmental Agreements, Mr. Arthur Becker and various focal points at the EPA responsible for different negotiations at the COP29. The participants also include head of the National Disaster Management Agency, Hon. Ansu Dulleh, sr., Representatives from the Forestry Development Authority, the House of Representatives and Senate, Superintendents representative as well as other local and international organizations within Liberia. “I just arrived along with my team to prepare the way for the arrival of the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Jeremiah Kpan Koung, who will be making a key note speech” Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo told reporters upon his arrival at the Baku International Airport.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commits countries to work together on tackling climate change through reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation efforts, in line with particular principles of action (including developed countries most responsible for causing climate change should bear the most responsibilities for addressing it).

Each year countries meet at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to discuss progress towards achieving the targets in the Paris Agreement, which every country in the world has now signed up to, and articulates clearly how efforts to tackle climate change should be achieved. This is primarily through a system of Nationally Determined Contributions(NDCs) towards the global temperature goal of “well below” 2 Degree Celsius and to “pursue efforts” towards limiting global warming to 1.5C .

This year event will run from 11th to 22nd November 2024

As it has always been, world leaders gather at COP to discuss progress towards achieving the targets in the Paris Agreement.

Among other things, Liberia will sit on the negotiation table with developed countries to lobby for support to the country.

Report says Vice President and Dr. Yarkpawolo and the Liberian delegation are expected to participate in major meetings to push the agenda of the country.