The State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Hon. Jenny Ohlsson, will travel to Liberia to hold high level meetings with the Government and various stakeholders. On her agenda is also the launch of the Stockholm +50 national consultations on how to ensure Liberia’s natural resources are managed for posterity and prosperity.

The national consultations will be launched by Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, on Monday, 7 March at the Monrovia City Hall ahead of the upcoming Stockholm +50 conference to be held on 2-3 June in Stockholm, Sweden. This year marks 50 years since the first United Nations Conference on the Environment, held in Stockholm, where the inextricable linkage between the environment and poverty was established, laying the foundation for sustainable development.

“Liberia’s Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development contributes to sustainable development by acknowledging the importance of climate change also to economic and social development. Its aspiration to improve the sustainable management of Liberia’s natural resources is commendable,” says Ms Ohlsson. “Sweden supports Liberia’s aspirations to protect its people from the effects of climate change through various climate adaptation and mitigation measures.”

Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with UNDP, will organize a series of national, regional and thematic consultations bringing together policy makers, technical experts, youth, women, civil society, private sector and other stakeholders to develop the country’s environmental management plan ahead of the June Stockholm +50 conference.

The Stockholm +50 conference, themed “a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity”, comes at a critical time when countries worldwide are grappling with the Earth’s triple crises – the climate emergency, unprecedented socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 that have wiped off key development gains, and continued degradation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity.

“The Government of Liberia is pleased to host Ms Ohlsson, whose visit speaks of our cordial and fruitful partnership with the Government of Sweden. Sweden and UNDP have long been great friends of Liberia, and I am pleased to see this collaboration with the Government to help strengthen our country’s environmental systems and ensure that our people can benefit from our country’s rich natural resources,” says Amb Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Liberia’s Foreign Minister.

“Liberia’s nationally determined contributions were bold and ambitious pledges to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, and to strengthen adaptation to climate change. Our goal as UNDP is to work with partners to help Liberia turn these commitments into concrete actions that will eradicate poverty and unemployment while protecting the country’s environmental resources,” says Stephen Rodriques, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Liberia.