Published: October 31, 2024
Monrovia – Ahead of the 2029 Conference of Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, ActionAid Liberia and its partners have highlighted the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and renewable energy in Liberia as essential steps toward climate resilience and economic stability.
The National Climate Justice Summit launched on October 30, 2024, under the theme, “Climate Financing for Agroecology and Renewable Energy,” at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town. This three-day summit, running through November 1, brings together stakeholders from both the agriculture and energy sectors to discuss, advocate, and strategize around Liberia’s most pressing environmental issues.
COP29, hosted by Azerbaijan, will gather global leaders to build on past commitments and set the stage for increased climate action. This session includes the twenty-ninth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the nineteenth meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 19), and the sixth meeting under the Paris Agreement (CMA 6). As a precursor to this global event, Liberia’s National Climate Justice Summit seeks to elevate local challenges and solutions for climate resilience.
In her opening remarks, Madam Elizabeth Gbah-Johnson, Country Director of ActionAid Liberia, highlighted the summit’s dual focus on addressing social inequities and tackling climate injustice in all forms. “We know that climate action must reach those who are most affected—women, smallholder farmers, youth, and communities living in poverty,” she stated. Liberia’s agriculture sector, which contributes over 36% to the country’s GDP and provides vital employment, especially for youth, faces significant threats from climate change. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme weather are reducing crop yields and threatening food security.
ActionAid Liberia aims to support 410,500 smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth, to boost food security and foster climate-resilient livelihoods. This effort, she noted, is not only about protecting the environment but about empowering communities through agroecology—a sustainable agricultural approach that emphasizes biodiversity, minimizes dependence on harmful inputs, and promotes local food systems.
Madam Gbah-Johnson emphasized the need for strong policy frameworks and robust financial mechanisms to advance agroecology and renewable energy solutions in Liberia. “As we stand here, only 28% of Liberia’s population has access to electricity, with renewables representing a small fraction,” she noted, stressing the role of government policies in ensuring accessible, sustainable energy for all. She called on stakeholders to strengthen Liberia’s energy transition framework and support community-driven agroecology initiatives.
The summit featured representatives from both the public and private sectors, including the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Liberia Land Authority, and development partners like the Swedish Embassy.
The Central Bank of Liberia’s Head of Development Finance, Mr. Jay Gbleh-bo Brown, II, spoke on behalf of Acting Executive Director Mr. Henry F. Saamoi, highlighting the financial sector’s critical role in mobilizing resources for climate-resilient growth. “The CBL is committed to building a climate-resilient Liberia that champions sustainability and inclusivity in all its economic activities,” he affirmed, recognizing the need for financial institutions to support climate-conscious solutions.
The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) announced its ongoing efforts to implement sustainable agricultural practices and renewable energy projects in select communities, underscoring the importance of local action. Similarly, a representative from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) expressed the agency’s strong support for the summit’s objectives, noting, “This call has come at the right time and in the interest of the country; we commit our unflinching support to this process for a sustainable Liberia.”
The three-day summit will culminate on November 1, 2024, with a march calling on climate crisis polluters to take responsibility by financing environmentally-friendly, climate justice-led solutions in Liberia and beyond. This demonstration will serve as a powerful message, demanding accountability from major contributors to the climate crisis and underscoring the urgent need for financing solutions that prioritize both the environment and vulnerable communities.
The summit’s discussions and actions are anticipated to be a rallying call for scaling climate finance and ensuring that critical sectors, including agroecology and renewable energy, receive the needed investments to drive sustainable development in Liberia.
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