Standing before a room of global leaders, climate advocates, and investors at the United Nations General Assembly Climate Summit, Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delivered a bold message to the world: Liberia’s forests are more than just trees—they are lifelines, and the country’s new climate strategy is designed to protect them while empowering the communities that depend on them. The centerpiece of that strategy is Liberia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), officially submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on September 22, 2025.
The updated plan outlines the counbtry’s most ambitious climate commitments to date, including a 64% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, of which 10% is unconditional—funded by Liberia’s own domestic resources—and 54% conditional upon international support. Delivering the presentation on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., the Executive Director of the EPA, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, described the NDC as central to Liberia’s national development, integrated with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. “This is more than numbers on paper,” Dr. Yarkpawolo told delegates. “It’s about communities on the ground conserving forests, receiving direct benefits, and reinvesting in their own futures.”
According to the EPA, Liberia’s new climate plan is not built solely in boardrooms or summit halls—it is grounded in rural communities, where forest preservation is a daily reality. Working with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and civil society partners, the government has launched initiatives to train, fund, and hold communities accountable for managing natural resources. “In rural Liberia, villages preserving forests are not left behind,” the EPA said in a press release. “Independent verification ensures that every ton of carbon saved is real and measurable qualities investors increasingly demand in a crowded carbon market.” A key innovation lies in Liberia’s emerging carbon market policy, now nearing completion. It aims to attract credible international buyers while ensuring transparency and equity. The policy will be showcased at Liberia’s national pavilion during COP30, highlighting a system that seeks to balance economic opportunity with environmental stewardship.
Behind the scenes, Liberia is investing in the science that underpins its climate credibility. A national forest inventory is currently underway, measuring carbon stored not only in trees, but also in vegetation and soil which is essential for accurate emissions accounting. “You’re not just buying credits; you’re investing in integrity, in communities, and in a system that can deliver lasting returns while protecting global public goods.” Liberia’s NDC 3.0 is the product of months of national dialogue, coordination, and technical collaboration. Earlier this year, stakeholders from across the country gathered in Ganta, Nimba County, to draft the “Ganta Declaration”, which informed the updated climate plan. The declaration emphasized gender equality, youth empowerment, child protection, and freshwater security as climate priorities.
The EPA led the process in collaboration with line ministries, county authorities, academia, the private sector, youth and women’s organizations, and international partners. “Though Liberia’s emissions remain among the lowest in the world, our record of climate leadership is long and consistent,” Dr. Yarkpawolo reminded delegates. He recalled Liberia’s early ratification of the Paris Agreement, its pioneering role in REDD+ forest conservation in West Africa, and its integration of climate goals with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The updated NDC broadens its coverage to major emitting and vulnerable sectors, including energy, agriculture, forestry, transport, waste, and health, and introduces new targets for adapting to floods, coastal erosion, and extreme weather, hazards increasingly affecting Liberian communities.
As Liberia makes its case on the international stage, it’s also making a clear appeal for partnership. Dr. Yarkpawolo called on banks, institutional investors, multilateral agencies, and corporate climate leaders to support Liberia’s climate journey through finance, technology, and capacity-building. “These are not acts of charity,” he said. “They are investments in our shared future.” Looking ahead to 2050, Liberia’s sights are set on achieving net-zero emissions, driven by sustainable development and community-led conservation. “With political will at home and growing international interest, Liberia is positioning itself as a test case for how carbon markets can be transparent, inclusive, and profitable,” said Dr. Yarkpawolo.
“Forests should not only fight climate change but also fuel local prosperity.” The EPA sees this moment as Liberia’s opportunity to demonstrate a model that offers a “triple win”—for the climate, for biodiversity, and for communities. As the world searches for scalable solutions to the climate crisis, Liberia is stepping forward not only with a plan but with a vision rooted in resilience, integrity, and shared prosperity. “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors,” Dr. Yarkpawolo concluded. “We borrow it from our children. Let us therefore rise together for Liberia, for Africa, and for our planet.”
Author: Zac T. Sherman
