(Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – April 29, 2025)_

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, in collaboration with development partners, on Tuesday convened the first in a series of regional consultations on the formulation of Liberia’s third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.

The one-day consultative workshop, which brought together a broad range of stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, community leaders, civil society, youth, women groups, and persons living with disabilities, marked a pivotal step in Liberia’s climate action journey under the Paris Agreement.

Speaking on behalf of the EPA, the Director of the Department of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), Mr. Arthur R.M. Becker, officially welcomed participants and described the gathering as “a significant milestone in our country’s ongoing efforts to confront the global climate crisis.”

Mr. Becker emphasized that the NDC process is more than an international obligation; it is a national imperative aimed at securing Liberia’s sustainable development, environmental integrity, and climate resilience. He highlighted that Liberia, like many vulnerable nations, is already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change—ranging from erratic weather patterns and coastal erosion to biodiversity loss and threats to food security.

“These impacts are real and worsening,” Mr. Becker stated, “but climate change is also an opportunity—an opportunity to drive inclusive development, foster innovation, and transition toward a low-emissions and climate-resilient economy.”

He noted that the NDC 3.0 process, officially launched in March 2025, is being guided by principles of ambition, inclusivity, and accountability. The consultations aim to ensure that the revised NDC reflects Liberia’s development aspirations while responding to the real challenges faced by communities across the country.

Tuesday’s agenda featured in-depth discussions on: New sectors and issues proposed for the NDC Roadmap, Inclusion of land and children’s rights, County development and freshwater ecosystems, Loss and damage, and localized climate actions, among others.

Sessions were facilitated by experts and government officials including John Forkpa Kannah, Arthur R.M. Becker, Urias S. Goll, Foday Bayoh (MFDP), Richard Hoff (EPA-RRF), and Sylvia Dorbor (SCNL), with support from institutions such as the UNDP, UNCDF, and the University of Liberia.

Mr. Becker also acknowledged the vital role of development partners such as UNDP, the NDC Partnership, UNICEF, UN WOMEN, ActionAid, Medica Liberia, and others who have provided both technical and financial support to the NDC update process.

He further commended the collaboration from line ministries, civil society, academia, media, youth, women, and the private sector. According to him, their inclusion ensures that NDC 3.0 is not only a technical policy document but “a living, actionable roadmap for building a sustainable and climate-resilient future”.

The consultation is going to identify sectoral and regional priorities for the updated NDC, in line with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) and Liberia’s international climate commitments.

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