“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to address climate change, enhance our resilience to its impacts and contribute to global action in line with the Paris Agreement,” said Deputy Minister for Economic Management, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Dehpue Y. Zuo at the validation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) stocktake report and launch of the NDC 3.0 process on 14 March in Monrovia.

Adopted in 2016 by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, the Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change that aims to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2℃ above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. It is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process and a binding agreement that brings all nations together to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.¹

The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that crossing the 1.5℃ threshold risks unleashing far more severe climate change impacts, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves, and rainfall.²

In 2021, the Government of Liberia, revised and updated the NDC in keeping with the decision adopted within the Paris Agreement, based on the change in national circumstances and the need to improve its ambitions for combating climate change. As required under article 4.3 of the Paris Agreement and following the Global Stocktake of the NDCs, Liberia embarked on a journey to assess, evaluate, and develop an outlook for its performance under the NDC 2.0. 

The National Stocktake process generated significant and reliable data on the country emission’s profile, enabling the environment for NDC effectiveness, integration of gender and other vulnerable groups during implementation, gaps identified in the current NDC 2.0, and a set of recommendations to improve performance for the next iteration of the NDC 3.0. 

Prepared with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other partners, Deputy Minister Zuo noted that the NDC 2.0 stocktake report provides the opportunity to assess where Liberia stands with the commitments made in the previous NDC. “Now that we know where we are regarding our progress, it is time we take tangible actions on the ground…” Deputy Minister noted. 

Echoing Zuo’s views, the UNDP Resident Representative Aliou Dia said, “The stocktake report we validate today provides a thorough and inclusive evaluation of the progress, achievements, and gaps in implementing the 2021 NDC. This assessment was conducted through a participatory process that amplified voices from diverse sectors, including youth, women, and civil society organizations. Their insights are essential, as we work to refine and strengthen NDC 3.0.”

Dia further noted that UNDP recognizes its responsibility to support Liberia in meeting its climate commitments. “UNDP is working in close collaboration with the government and UN partners to ensure a coordinated, system-wide approach to NDC revision and implementation,” he said.

DR. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Executive Director remarked that the validation of the NDC stocktake report and the launch of the NDC 3.0 mark a significant milestone in efforts to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable future for Liberians and the planet. 

Yarkpawolo said the NDC 2.0 report demonstrates Liberia’s commitment to addressing the global climate crisis through collective action, collaboration, and continuous progress.

Pledging support on behalf of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia and the Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI), Loretta Aletha Pope-Kai recommended that the EPA and partners support the establishment of gender and climate change working group with the civil society to provide technical support throughout the process as NDC 3.0 is developed. 

She noted that doing so will help establish gender-specific sectorial actions and targets, strengthen gender-responsive climate finance, and promote social protection for climate-impacted communities. 

In 2021, Liberia pledged to reduce its Economy-wide Greenhouse by 64% below the projected business-as-usual levels by 2030. The NDC 2.0 validation report was a necessary step toward evaluating Liberia’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing resilience to climate impacts.

Source: 

^{1 https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement}

^{2 https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement}