The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) has announced plans to host a National Pavilion at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, aiming to attract green investments and highlight Liberia’s leadership in climate action and environmental sustainability.
Speaking Thursday at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) press briefing, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo said the pavilion will showcase Liberia’s rich biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, and potential for sustainable economic partnerships.
“Liberia is proud to take its story to the world, a story of resilience, hope, and commitment to global climate solutions,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “Our Pavilion will position Liberia as a destination for green investment and innovation in both the forest and ocean economies.”
Liberia will attend COP30 with a high-level delegation led by Finance and Development Planning Minister Hon. Augustine K. Ngafuan, representing the Government and people of Liberia.
At the conference, Liberia will spotlight its updated climate pledge, the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), which commits to a 64 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
Dr. Yarkpawolo noted the NDC aligns with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, linking climate action to economic growth, jobs, and poverty reduction.
“Climate action must go hand in hand with sustainable livelihoods,” he emphasized. “We are working to make climate resilience a pathway to national development.”
A key feature of Liberia’s participation will be the presentation of its Carbon Market Policy, now in final review. The policy sets a national framework for carbon markets, outlining eligibility for emissions-reduction and removal activities, benefit-sharing mechanisms for local communities, and alignment with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
“The Carbon Market Policy will create opportunities for investment, community development, and climate finance,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “It will ensure that the benefits of carbon trading reach the people who protect our forests.”
Liberia will also launch its first post-war Natural Capital Atlas at COP30, developed with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNCDF, and other partners. The Atlas maps forests, rivers, biodiversity hotspots, and mineral resources, positioning natural wealth as the foundation for sustainable economic transformation. “Liberia’s natural capital is our most valuable asset,” the EPA Boss noted. “This Atlas shows that our forests and ecosystems are not just heritage—they are the backbone of our economic future.”
Ahead of COP30, the EPA will convene a national preparatory meeting on Friday, October 31, 2025, at the Climate Change Laboratory, University of Liberia, followed by a High-Level Inter-Ministerial and Legislative Meeting on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the Farmington Hotel, Margibi County. The agency also announced the launch of a dedicated COP30 information initiative.
Reaffirming Liberia’s role in the global climate agenda, Dr. Yarkpawolo said the country is “not just a victim of climate change but a key custodian of the planet’s ecological balance,” citing that Liberia contains 43 percent of West Africa’s remaining forest cover and extensive mangrove ecosystems. “We are one of the world’s natural lungs,” he added. “Protecting our forests means protecting the planet itself.”
He called on the international community, development partners, and private investors to support Liberia’s green transition and help translate its natural capital into sustainable prosperity.
COP30 will take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 2–21, 2025, bringing together world leaders, negotiators, and climate advocates.
This year’s focus on forest and ocean-based solutions, just transitions, and climate finance aligns closely with Liberia’s environmental priorities and development agenda.
