By Anthony Ohemeng-Boamah UNDP Liberia Resident Representative a.i.
Monrovia, Liberia; November 20, 2024: At the Conference of the Parties-COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, global climate negotiations reached a critical juncture. Temperature records are being breached, and climate impacts are more widespread and devastatingly intertwined with other crises on biodiversity, food, finance, and increasing global conflicts.
Along Liberia’s coast, communities are being devastated by erosion and floods, and key agricultural regions are shattered by irregular temperatures and rain patterns. The world must take rapid, sustained, and large-scale action to limit global warming.
One year before the Paris Agreement’s 10th anniversary, COP29 represents a pivotal moment in global climate action. Liberia, as a party to the Agreement is expected to submit its revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) which outline the nation’s ambition and sovereign commitment to climate actions.
UNDP will coordinate UN System-wide support for NDC preparations. With an NDC stocktaking process underway, the UN System extensively supports Liberia’s climate actions and preparation for NDC 3.0.
At COP29, the “finance COP” Liberia emerges as a key player, aiming to leverage its 6.6 million hectares of forest, which comprise 153.45 tons/hectare of carbon as one of the few bastions of hope for the good of the world.
Delegates seek a new funding mechanism to support developing countries’ emissions reduction and climate adaptation, with Liberia actively advocating for climate finance.
On the opening day of COP29, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement was adopted. This mechanism paves the way for a UN-backed global carbon market. This market will facilitate the trading of carbon credits, incentivizing countries to reduce emissions and invest in climate-friendly projects.
On Tuesday, 12 November, Liberia’s Vice President Jeremiah Koung addressed world leaders at the COP29 climate summit emphasizing the importance of the Loss and Damages Fund which experts say would help third-world nations, including those in Africa, better address climate change and pollution.
Vice President Koon informed the Summit that Liberia will further increase its climate ambition at the time of the country’s third generation NDC, considering biodiversity protection, conservation of mangroves, freshwater ecosystem services, child rights, and human mobility.
He advocated for stronger cooperative actions and decisions on Articles 6.2, 6.4, and 6.8 at COP29 consistent with the Africa Group’s position in operationalizing carbon-market and non-carbon market mechanisms.
Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), leading the Liberian delegation side event on 16 November announced that Liberia intends to engage in the global carbon market. Harnessing carbon trading initiatives could benefit local communities and support essential national development goals, including the expansion of renewable energy and road infrastructure critical to the country’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Liberia advocates for greater and fair climate finance mechanisms that are predictable and accessible with ambitious commitments from developed nations. The need for climate finance is critical, particularly for countries like Liberia which are highly vulnerable to climate change effects but have limited resources to fund adaptation initiatives.
In its 2021 NDC Financing Strategy, Liberia estimated $490 million to achieve its climate and green growth ambitions through 2025. However, Liberia faces a funding gap of $460 million, including zero from the private sector.
At COP29, Liberia is actively negotiating a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance that starts at $100 billion annually with the specific needs of developing nations at the forefront.
UNDP supported Liberia’s pre-COP event that brought together national and local leaders, civil society, youth and women representatives, and other stakeholders to explore key political aspects of negotiations, find solutions to outstanding issues, and set the tone for the country’s participation.
In addition, UNDP supports the participation of eight national stakeholders on the Liberian delegation at COP29, including key negotiators from EPA, the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), the National Disaster Management Agency, and representatives from the Federation of Liberian Youth and Civil Society.
Recognizing youth as over half of Liberia’s population, UNDP collaborated with the Liberia Youth for Climate Action and the Government of Liberia to host a side event on 14 November, highlighting challenges, best practices, and lessons learned to enable broad-based and inclusive youth participation in the revision of NDC 3.0.
The side event explored promoting policy change, leveraging current and emerging youth empowerment opportunities, mapping existing financial mechanisms, identifying key stakeholders and financial institutions, and connecting youth-led initiatives to NDC targets.
UNDP will facilitate a post-COP29 national report and dialogue to take stock of the Baku negotiations and reflect on key takeaways and opportunities for Liberia.
Liberia and the UNDP partnership
UNDP partners with the Liberian Government to drive inclusive growth, sustainable environmental governance, climate-resilient development, and sustainable natural resource management. UNDP is also working with the Government and other development partners to support the country in developing a carbon readiness roadmap.
This would help Liberia achieve the objectives of reducing emissions from forest loss, implementing sustainable forest management, and enabling access to results-based carbon finance to expand Liberia’s fiscal space and accelerate inclusive and sustainable development.
UNDP is implementing projects that directly support Liberia’s national goals and global climate commitments by working in partnership with other UN Agencies, the European Union, the governments of Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), among others.
These initiatives advance sector-wide adaptation in coastal areas, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, health, and strengthening public institutions. In this regard, UNDP has supported the government in mobilizing climate finance valued at approximately $30 million in the last 5 years, for the Monrovia Metropolitan Coastal Resilient Project and the Sinoe Coastal Project.
UNDP will soon complete a GEF/Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF) project “Strengthening Agricultural Resilience Through Transformational Livelihood Adaptation in Liberia” to build climate resilience in natural-resource-dependent rural communities implementing systems-based, transformational adaptation, targeting agricultural, fisheries, and ecotourism sectors.
For Liberia’s NDC 3.0 submission in early 2025, UNDP commits to providing technical and financial support through a combined UN Country Team effort under the UN Resident Coordinator. This will be realized through UNDP Climate Promise 2025 “Below 1.5 By 2025: The Plan intends to align NDCs with the 1.5° goal and the Sustainable Development Goals while strengthening investment possibilities to drive sustainable development.
The Baku climate talks present an exciting prospect for strengthening the UNDP and the Government of Liberia partnership by mobilizing climate finance, leveraging global climate finance opportunities, supporting low-carbon growth, advancing climate adaptation in urban coastal communities, and addressing challenges in forest fringe regions.
A Call to Action
Liberia can transform climate challenges into sustainable growth opportunities. To do that, the Liberian Government must take bold leadership and align national policies with climate priorities. It must also create an enabling environment for climate finance. Liberia can attract necessary investments and foster sustainable development by setting clear targets, implementing climate-smart policies, and ensuring transparency.
Development partners should encourage and enable the government of Liberia by providing financial resources, and technical expertise, and building local capacity for climate programs. Upholding the Paris Agreement’s principle of shared responsibility requires accelerating international climate finance delivery, ensuring funds reach local communities, and prioritizing vulnerable populations (youth and women).
The Private Sector must also engage by unlocking green infrastructure investments, including developing renewable energy, supporting climate-resilient agriculture, adopting climate-smart technologies, and partnering with government and development organizations in the collective effort.
Civil Society should continue to increase advocacy for climate justice, ensure equitable financing, prioritize community-driven solutions, and guarantee locally-owned climate action plans. UNDP reiterates its commitment to supporting Liberia in building capacities and implementing programs to fully unlock the potential of a green economy for the country.
Together, we can help Liberia strengthen climate resilience, and seize opportunities for a sustainable future while ensuring no one is left behind.