The National Civil Society Council of Liberia has ended a one day interactive stocktake Consultative Meeting On Nationally Determined Contributions otherwise known as NDCs.
NDC for short is a nationally determined contribution or a country self defined national pleged under the Paris agreement for climate action to reduce the rate of climate change (climate change mitigation)and adopts to its impact ( climate change adaptation) UNFCCC 2024a.
It also includes addressing loss and damage associated with adverse impacts that are no longer avoidable .
Additionally, NDCs outline how much and through which action each country aims to reduce greenhouse emissions including how to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to climate impacts and how to mobilize and align financial flows to reach those aims .
Speaking at the opening ceremony the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo informs the gethering of Liberia’s s commitment to reducing its economy wide greenhouse gas emissions by 64% below the projected business as usual level by 2030.
He named other commitments as the reduction of the national deforestation rate by 50% by 2030 as well as the reduction of GHG emissions by 1,800 Gg C02e per year by limiting the forest management concessions to 1.6ha by 2030.
At the same time, He indicated that Liberia is working on improving national policy to reduce GHG emissions by incentivizing sustainable fuel wood and charcoal production by 2030.
Every Country as part of the process is required to review and update their NDC every five years to reflect increase national ambition envolving capacities for climate action.
Liberia as part of its process, the EPA boss stressed is currently working with nine sectors in the NDCs to include: Agriculture, Coastal Zone, Fisheries, Energy, Forestry, Health, Industry, Waste and Transportation respectively.
Highlighting the CSOs contribution to such process, Dr. Yarkpawolo used the ocassion to call for the active engagement of civil society organizations into the sector.
EPA he assured the body will identify target set forth in various project where the EPA accredit align with the NDC in a more robust and measurable way.
“We want stocktake to be a process in the ongoing implementation which will require development of monitoring and evaluation framework for the next NDCs phase”, he added.
Also speaking at the meeting was the Chairperson of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia Loretta Pop Kai who underscored the crucial role that CSOs have to play in advancing climate action and holding the government accountable.
She said Liberia’s NDC represents the Country’s commitment to advancing climate change and building a sustainable future for all.
“CSOs she stated should continue to advocate for ambitious climate change target, increase transparency and meaningful engagement for all stakeholders in the implementation of the NCDs.
“Together we can drive a positive change and ensure that Liberia Fulfills its commitment for the benefit of our Country and future generations as such, let’s work together collaboratively towards a sustainable goal”, she noted.
At the same time, the team leader of UNDP Dorsla Farcarthy welcomes Liberia’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 64% below business as usual by 2030 which he pointed out is a significant step forward towards climate resilience and sustainability.
However, he was quick to point out that fulfilling such ambition requires coordinated efforts, adequate funding and inclusive participation.
Mr. Farcarthy told the gathering that through climate promise initiative , the UNDP has been privileged to support Liberia in developing the NSC financing strategy and the implementation plan both of which are crucial in identifying sectoral action and addressing gaps in implementation.
” Our continued support for this process underscores our commitment to ensuring that climate action remains both impactful and sustainable “, he re-emphasized.
The UNDP’s team leader also stated that the primary purpose of the NDCs stocktake is to comprehensively assess national progress towards the Paris agreement pleges and identifying needs and opportunities as well as remaining challenges and recommendations for implementation in the next round of the NDC.
According to him, CSOs engagement and advocacy are at the heart beat of such effort.
He noted that CSO engagement and advocacy and on the ground initiative bridge policy and practices ensuring that climate action reaches the most vulnerable communities.
Additionally, he commended the National Civil society Council of Liberia for such initiative thus indicating that CSOs are key stakeholders in national and international processes as their role played is crucial to the country especially in decisions making, providing technical support and research thus advocating for ambitious action.
He also named other important roles that CSOs played in the process as the creation of awareness, building of capacity and enhancing resilience of the most vulnerable populations.
Meanwwhile, the interactive Consultative Meeting which brought together CSOs from different sectors ended with the adoption key points for the next NDCs.
