Gbarnga, Bong County – August 16, 2025:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, has called on Liberians to take climate change seriously, stressing that the effects are already being felt across the country.

Speaking at the opening of a national multi-stakeholder consultation in Gbarnga, Bong County over the weekend, Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo said the meeting is part of efforts to develop Liberia’s first Carbon Policy and Law. The exercise, which runs from August 14 to 19, is targeting four counties – Montserrado, Margibi, Lofa, and Bong.

Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo thanked the Multi-stakeholder Forestry Governance and Accountability Platform (MF-GAP) and other partners for supporting the consultations. He also conveyed greetings from President Joseph Boakai, who is currently on a foreign mission in Japan.

The EPA boss reminded participants that climate change is not just a global problem but one that is already affecting Liberians in their daily lives. He pointed to irregular rainfall, rising sea levels, and unusual pest invasions as examples of the changing climate.

“Our rainy season is no longer normal, our dry season is no longer normal. Even pests like the caterpillars that destroy farms are signs of climate change. If we don’t act now, the future will be dangerous for our children,” Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo warned.

He explained that forests play a key role in fighting climate change by absorbing harmful gases. According to him, Liberia’s forests and mangroves are among the most important in West Africa and can help the country benefit from the international carbon market.

“We are blessed with more than 40% of the Upper Guinean forest. But the question is: can we manage this new resource called carbon differently from how we managed our gold and diamond? This time, we must make sure that communities and the nation benefit equally,” he said.

The consultations, he noted, are meant to gather the views of citizens, experts, and institutions to help shape a strong national carbon policy. He said the government is working to avoid unfair deals where communities receive little benefit from preserving their forests.

Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo added that on August 21–22, a larger meeting will be held in Ganta, Nimba County, where stakeholders will finalize recommendations that will guide the country’s carbon law and governance system.

“These consultations are very important. They will help us protect our forests, benefit from global agreements like the Paris Accord, and ensure that Liberia does not miss out on opportunities in the carbon market,” he said.

The Gbarnga gathering follows a similar event held in Kakata, Margibi County on August 15, where stakeholders also discussed community land rights, Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and the benefits of carbon trading.

Organizers stressed that the ongoing consultations are meant to promote transparency and inclusiveness in Liberia’s climate change response.