Monrovia, Liberia …..The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel K. Yarkpawolo, has called on environmentalists nationwide to lend their support to the Agency’s ongoing efforts. Speaking at the opening of a series of training sessions designed to enhance the capacity of Grassroots Environmental Defenders across Liberia, Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized the importance of collaboration in ensuring the country’s environmental safety.
This training initiative comes at a critical time as the EPA has developed several regulatory instruments that necessitate ongoing education and public awareness.

Dr. Yarkpawolo highlighted the recent approval, on December 13, 2024, by the EPA’s Policy Council of various environmental regulations, including Air Quality Regulations, Wetland Regulation, Soil Quality Regulation, Solid Waste Management Regulation, Radiation Regulation, Lead Paint Regulation, and Water Quality Regulation.
“We are currently producing these regulations in handbill form and will need your assistance in educating our communities. This is the work you excel at, and we commend you for it,” Dr. Yarkpawolo stated. He emphasized that Grassroots Environmental Defenders play a crucial role in advocacy, helping people understand their rights and make informed decisions. He pointed out that the rights of vulnerable populations are enshrined in the Constitution and various laws, policies, and regulations.
Unfortunately, many individuals remain unaware of these rights, and this ignorance is often exploited by those in power.
Dr. Yarkpawolo stressed the responsibility of defenders to inform the public, explaining that when people are informed, they are empowered to stand up for their rights and advocate for just benefits regarding their livelihoods and environmental conditions. He cautioned, however, that those who hold wealth at the expense of the vulnerable often oppose education about rights, resorting to tactics of suppression, oppression, unjust imprisonment, and even violence against defenders.
He posed a rhetorical question: should these self-defeating oppressive tactics continue? The clear answer he provided was no. Dr. Yarkpawolo quoted the esteemed defender Nelson Mandela: “Millions of people in the world’s poorest countries remain imprisoned, enslaved, and in chains. They are trapped in the prison of poverty. It is time to set them free.”
In closing, Dr. Yarkpawolo acknowledged that Grassroots Environmental Defenders are at the forefront of this essential freedom and deserve recognition and appreciation for their critical work in advocating for environmental protection and social justice.