Baku, Azerbaijan — In a compelling address at the COP 29 side event, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, emphasized the critical importance of community rights in combating climate change and securing the Upper Guinean forests.

The event, organized by Fauna & Flora International, USAID WABiLED, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), featured the theme “Rights at the Heart of REDD: Securing the Upper Guinean Forests for Climate, Nature, and People,” highlighting the intersection between environmental policy and community engagement.

Dr. Yarkpawolo commenced his remarks with gratitude to the event’s organizers, underscoring the relevance of the theme amid ongoing climate negotiations.

“As we witness momentum building around Article 6.4’s endorsement and negotiations for Article 6.2, this moment presents significant opportunities for nations to engage in the carbon market,” he stated. He noted that these developments could enhance countries’ efforts to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) while addressing the urgent challenges presented by climate change.

A central tenet of Dr. Yarkpawolo’s message was the essential role of local communities in the REDD+ framework. He asserted that the effectiveness of nature-based solutions hinges on equitable participation from those who directly rely on forest ecosystems.

“This event is a testament to that principle,” he remarked, reinforcing that community rights must be prioritized in all conservation efforts to combat climate change.

Dr. Yarkpawolo highlighted Liberia’s commitment to global climate action through its Revised NDCs, submitted in 2021. Developed with extensive stakeholder participation, these commitments aim to achieve a 64% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to business-as-usual levels.

He emphasized Liberia’s intent to actively engage in the global carbon market, suggesting that harnessing carbon trading initiatives could benefit local communities and support essential national development goals, including the expansion of renewable energy and road infrastructure.

During his address, Dr. Yarkpawolo also referenced Liberia’s national biodiversity initiatives, aligning with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to conserve 30% of natural ecosystems worldwide by 2030.

He reinforced the significance of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, stating their vital contributions to conservation efforts.

Liberia’s commitment to these principles draws upon the legal foundation laid by the Land Rights Law in 2018 and the Community Rights Law of 2009, which respect and protect the rights of communities concerning their land.

The Executive Director concluded his remarks by reiterating the importance of formulating Liberia’s 30×30 national action plan, reinforcing the commitment to conserving the nation’s rich ecological heritage as part of a broader global strategy.

As climate negotiations progress, Dr. Yarkpawolo’s insights emphasize the intertwined nature of rights, communities, and environmental sustainability. The call for a community-centered approach in climate action resonates strongly, advocating for a collaborative future where both nature and people thrive harmoniously.