Says Decision Contradicts Liberia’s Climate Commitments And Undermines Global Climate Justice Efforts

PHOTO: What used to be a children play ground in Balawles, Buchanan, taken over by the sea

Monrovia, Liberia — A consortium of land, climate, and environmental rights organizations has expressed profound disappointment and concern over Liberia’s decision to vote against the recent United Nations General Assembly resolution supporting the landmark advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on climate change, says a May 22, 2026 press releas.

The organizations include Green Advocates International (GAI), the Alliance for Rural Democracy (ARD), and the Natural Resource Women Platform (NRWP).

In a joint press release issued Friday, the organizations noted that the resolution — overwhelmingly adopted by 141 member states — seeks to reinforce international legal obligations on climate action, accountability, and the protection of vulnerable populations from the devastating impacts of climate change.

However, Liberia joined a small bloc of countries that voted against the resolution, including Yemen, Belarus, Israel, Iran, the United States, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. Notably, Liberia was the only African country to oppose the resolution.

“We are deeply troubled by Liberia’s position on such a historic global climate justice initiative,” said Alfred Lahai Gbabai Brownell Sr., Founding President of the Global Climate Legal Defense (CLiDeF), Founder of Green Advocates International (GAI), Lead Campaigner at the African Climate Platform (ACP), and recipient of the 2019 Goldman Environmental Prize.

“It is unfortunate that Liberia, which currently holds a seat on the United Nations Security Council representing Africa, chose to isolate itself from the rest of the African continent by becoming the only African country to vote against the resolution,” Brownell added.

The consortium stated that Liberia’s vote is not only diplomatically isolating, but also fundamentally contradictory to the country’s own climate commitments and repeated appeals for climate reparations, climate financing, green investments, and support for loss and damage caused by climate change.

A 2024 World Bank Group Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), ranks Liberia among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts. The report notes that climate threats continue to endanger the country’s coastal infrastructure, food systems, public health, and overall economy, warning that, “Without effective adaptation measures, climate change could shrink Liberia’s economy by up to 15% and push approximately 1.3 million people into extreme poverty by 2050.”

Rice production, a critical national staple, is projected to decline significantly due to rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns.

The consortium insists that Liberia’s opposition to the resolution sharply contradicts the country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and its Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), through which Liberia pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 64% below business-as-usual levels by 2030, contingent in part on international climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building support.

Windor B. Smith, Head of Secretariat at the Alliance for Rural Democracy (ARD) reminded the government that “Liberia has also committed to protecting the Upper Guinean rainforest through community-led conservation, reducing deforestation, strengthening climate resilience, and advancing a just transition that prioritizes women and vulnerable communities.”

Green Advocates’ Staff Lawyer and focal person for the African Climate Platform (ACP), Atty. AL Varney Rogers warned that “The vote risks undermining Liberia’s credibility in international climate negotiations, weakening Africa’s collective voice on climate justice.”

Atty. Rogers further noted that ACP has submitted a separate petition before the African Court seeking an advisory opinion on the obligations of African states in the context of the climate crisis.

The consortium also highlighted growing climate-related health and economic risks facing Liberia, including severe flooding, rising temperatures, water contamination, and increasing outbreaks of diseases and mortality.

“How can a climate-vulnerable nation demand international solidarity and financial support for climate resilience while simultaneously voting against a resolution aimed at strengthening global accountability and climate justice?” asked Radiatu Sherif-Kahnplaye, Policy Advisor at the Natural Resource Women Platform.

Reflecting on the struggles of affected coastal communities in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, GAI’s Acting Executive Director, Francis K. Colee, said “Children in Balawles, no longer have a football field because it has been swallowed by coastal erosion, yet they still gather there to play. Nearby, sellers and other residents now walk through floodwaters because the road connecting neighboring communities has been lost to the sea.”

A failed improvised effort at coastal defense in Big Fanti, Buchanan

The group is therefore calling on the Government of Liberia to publicly explain the rationale behind its opposition to the UN General Assembly resolution adopting the ICJ advisory opinion on climate change.

In addition to the ACP, Green Advocates also hosts the Secretariat of the Environmental Rights Africa (ERA) initiative — a coalition of over 55 civil society organizations, seeking pathways toward the adoption of a continent-wide environmental rights’ legal framework.

The release also quotes ERA Head of Secretariat, Peter Quaqua, as saying: “At this defining moment in global climate and environmental governance challenges, Liberia must never stand against the very principles of justice, environmental protection, and international cooperation.”

Quaqua added: “The ICJ advisory opinion represented an opportunity for vulnerable nations, particularly African countries, to strengthen international legal frameworks on climate responsibility and justice. Liberia should have stood firmly with affected communities and vulnerable nations because its vote does not reflect the realities on the ground.”