In a significant stride towards sustainable environmental practices and climate change mitigation, Liberia has officially established its Methane Technical Working Group (MTWG).
The initiative is spearheaded by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in
collaboration with GREENLIFE West Africa with funding from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) convened initiative to reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs).
The MTWG of Liberia was established during a one-day workshop held on October 8, 2023.
This proactive step aims to address and reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to global warming.
The MTWG brings together a diverse range of experts including scientists,
environmentalists, government officials representatives from the private sector, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
The collaborative effort underscores Liberia’s commitment to meeting its climate targets and fostering a greener and more sustainable future.
During the workshop, Madam Magaret Beslow of the EPA expressed enthusiasm about the establishment of the MTWG. She said, “Liberia recognizes the urgent need to tackle climate change and its adverse effcts on our environment.
By forming the MTWG, Liberia is taking proactive steps to identify, assess, and implement strategies to reduce methane emissions within our borders.”
The establishment of the MTWG is part of a project entitled ‘Liberia: Deliver
National Methane Roadmap’ which is being implemented by GREENLIFE West Africa in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with funded from CCAC/UNEP.
Methane, though less prevalent in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide, is over 25 times more effective at trapping heat over a 100-year period.
Reducing methane emissions is considered a crucial aspect of global climate efforts, and Liberia’s initiative aligns with international climate agreements including the Paris Agreement in a global effort to limit the rise in average global temperatures.
The Methane Technical Working Group is expected to play a pivotal role in the
development of Liberia’s Methane Roadmap and Action Plan, setting a positive example for other nations striving to address the pressing issue of climate change.
The main objectives of the MTWG is to assist in the design and implementation of the Methane Roadmap and Action Plan through data collection and sharing, and capacity building to support methane reduction in the country.
The MTWG is also expected to ensure that the Methane Roadmap and Action Plan is smoothly adopted into all the national policies and action plans during and beyond the project period.
