The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, has called on Liberia’s private sector to play a greater role in addressing climate change, saying the country’s environmental goals cannot be achieved without the active participation of businesses.
Speaking Tuesday at the opening of a four-day workshop on Aligning MSME Business Practices with Liberia’s National Climate Goals (NDCs) at the Liberia Chamber of Commerce in Monrovia, Dr. Yarkpawolo said climate action requires a strong partnership between government and the private sector.
“The private sector is critical to Liberia’s climate future. Businesses have the power to reduce their environmental impact, invest in cleaner technologies, create green jobs, and support sustainable economic growth,” he said.
The workshop organized by the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia in collaboration with the Youth Entrepreneurs Network of Liberia and supported by the UNIDO Grow-2 Project, brought together representatives of government institutions, development partners, the private sector, business associations, and owners of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Dr. Yarkpawolo said Liberia is already experiencing the effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, flooding and coastal erosion, all of which continue to affect communities and businesses.
He described MSMEs as the backbone of Liberia’s economy, noting that they generate employment, support livelihoods and contribute significantly to economic growth. However, he said they are also among the businesses most vulnerable to climate-related shocks.
According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, Liberia’s commitments under the Paris Agreement require the country to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen its resilience through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
He said achieving those commitments will depend on meaningful collaboration between government and the private sector.
“Businesses should see climate action not as a burden but as an opportunity to improve their operations, reduce costs, attract investment, and build stronger and more resilient businesses,” he said.
He described the workshop as an opportunity to help businesses integrate climate-smart practices into their operations while remaining competitive in a changing economy.
Dr. Yarkpawolo encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training by improving waste management, increasing energy efficiency, using natural resources responsibly and adopting environmentally sustainable business practices.
He also thanked the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, development partners and other stakeholders for supporting the initiative, saying lasting progress will depend on continued cooperation between government, the private sector and development partners.
The EPA Executive Director reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with businesses across Liberia to promote environmental protection while supporting sustainable economic growth.
The four-day workshop is expected to strengthen the capacity of MSMEs to adopt climate-smart business practices and support Liberia’s implementation of its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.
