Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), spoke forcefully at the Leaders’ Summit of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on behalf of President Joseph Boakai, Sr., urging increased international assistance to preserve tropical forests and close the global climate financing gap.
He commended Brazil for organizing the historic summit in the center of the Amazon and hailed the nation’s leadership in climate diplomacy and forest protection. According to him, Belém’s location—where the Amazon is the planet’s lifeblood—serves as a reminder that tropical forests must be protected worldwide if mankind is to survive.
He emphasized that protecting these forests is not just a Liberian obligation but also a worldwide one, describing them as the world’s lungs that are necessary for absorbing carbon, controlling precipitation, and preserving regional stability.
Liberia’s aggressive climate targets under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), which seek to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 64% by 2035, were presented by Dr. Yarkpawolo. However, he warned that reaching these objectives would require significant investment and that there is still a large gap between Liberia’s ambition and the amount of climate money that is available, endangering advancements in adaptation, renewable energy, and sustainable livelihoods. Thus, he advocated for more robust international financial alliances.
Tropical forest
Liberia also voiced strong support for the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), a performance-based funding program that honors nations who manage their forests sustainably and save them.
According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, the project offers hope that Liberia’s dedication to conservation will be matched with steady funding, enabling the nation to protect the Upper Guinean Forest while fostering resilient landscapes, green jobs, and community development.
He made a connection between Liberia’s climate plan and the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which emphasizes tourism, agriculture, roads, education, sanitation, and the rule of law. According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, this framework guarantees that climate action directly enhances the lives of citizens, characterizing it as climate justice in action.
He added that Liberia’s National Carbon Market Policy ensures equality and transparency in climate governance by ensuring that local communities and indigenous peoples receive a fair share of the benefits of carbon trading.
Dr. Yarkpawolo called on world leaders to act swiftly and united, going beyond promises. According to him, the Paris Agreement must now be fully implemented through funding, technology, and capacity support that enable nations like Liberia to fulfill their obligations rather than through speeches.
He underlined Liberia’s willingness to lead with integrity, safeguard its forests, and work with the rest of the world to create a just, resilient, and sustainable planet, and he urged COP30 to be a pivotal moment where promises become progress.
World leaders are gathering in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which aims to strengthen climate finance for developing countries, expedite decarbonization, and protect tropical forests.
