The Program Manager of the National Adaptation Plan (NAPs) Project, E. Abraham T. Tumbey has told a two -day National Dialogue on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County that addressing climate change requires decisive leadership and coordinated stakeholders input.
The two-day National Dialogue on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which get underway on Wednesday November 20, 2019 in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County was organized by the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Conservation International (CI) and REDD Implementation Unit at the Forestry Development Authority (FDA).
The dialogue has attracted government representatives, partners and foreign experts involved in NDC implementation.
Speaking at the start of the dialogue, E. Abraham T. Tumbey, Program Manager for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Project said it has been four years since Liberia submitted its NDC as a demonstration of the country’s commitment to contribute to the global effort on combating climate change.
He disclosed that a core pillar of the Paris Agreement is that countries will scale up their national climate efforts every five years.
“Liberia took the first step in 2015 by submitting its INDC, and in 2020, it is expected to take the next. By making these commitments, Liberia has signaled that a climate-resilient future is underway,” Tumbey said.
“Ladies and gentlemen as we prepare for the implementation of the Paris Agreement in 2020, the convening of this dialogue is indeed a landmark effort that allows us as partners to reflect and outline a clear pathway and approach for a collaborative effort in supporting Liberia in a coherent and effective manner,” he told the gathering in a statement delivered on behalf of UNDP.
The meeting, according to him also provides a unique opportunity to engage a broader group of stakeholders in the NDC process and increase ownership of national and sectoral climate commitments.
“Such a broader engagement can also help increase national ownership of NDCs among diverse stakeholder groups,” Tumbey added.
He told the gathering that addressing climate change requires decisive leadership and coordinated stakeholders input and disclosed the UNDP is happy to be a part of this process.
Also speaking at the start of the dialogue, the Focal Point of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Prof. Benjamin Karmorh disclosed that Liberia is a party to the Paris Climate Agreement, which it ratified in 2018.
He indicated that the ratification of the instrument demonstrates the political way on the part of government in fulfilling its own international obligations.
Prof. Karmorh disclosed that NDC is a major activity that all parties to the Paris Climate Agreement should undertake and this dialogue is just a jumpstart in term of Liberia revising its Nationally Determined Contributions NDC.
He indicated that there will be a lot of activities after the dialogue, which seeks to drill down on gaps in NDC implementation; identify opportunities for internal and external partnerships; and explore how to strengthen governance and coordination mechanisms for effective NDC implementation.
He explained that Liberia submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) in 2015, outlining the country’s intended actions to contribute to the global effort to combat climate change.
“INDC was a major requirement for all countries that were taking part in the Paris Climate Change talk, so Liberia submitted her plan of action in term of how she would address climate change,” he noted.
According to him, Liberia told the international community that it was going to address climate change from an adaptation and mitigation standpoint.
He assured that all relevant stakeholders in the business of climate change will be invited so that every view can be reflective in the revised NDC when it is submitted to the international community.
Prof. Karmorh disclosed that the revised NDC will be anchored into the Pro-poor Agenda.
EPA Deputy Executive Director, Randall M. Dobayou lauded the participants for turning out in mass at the gathering.
Declaring the dialogue open, Hon. Dobayou recounted EPA’s achievements, including the interventions at New Kru Town, and in Buchanan City aim at mitigating the negative impacts of climate change in Liberia.
For his part, Conservation International (CI) Deputy Director, Peter Mulbah three years ago identified gaps in the Liberia’s NDC and said he is happy that the country has taken board step in implementing some of the gaps CI identified.
He disclosed since 2000, CI has been a very strong partner supporting the Linerian Government’s initiative.
Mr. Mulbah said CI is glad to be part of the dialogue and noted that the group would continually support Liberia’s development drive.
