Published: January 5, 2026
MONROVIA — From global climate finance to clean cooking stoves in rural kitchens, Liberia’s takeaways from the U.N. climate talks in Brazil took center stage during a panel discussion at the Climate Justice Forum held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex recently.
Panelists drawn from civil society, youth movements, women’s organizations and regional bodies reflected on what COP30 delivered for Liberia — and what hurdles still stand in the way of a just transition, people-driven climate finance and sustainable development.
Climate finance: opportunities with barriers
Sylvia Diamond Dorbor, technical lead at the Green Future Initiative Platform and Liberia’s lead negotiator on loss and damage at COP30, said financing remains one of the biggest challenges for African countries.“There is money for climate change impact, but how do you get the money, who do you reach out to and how do you report on it remain critical hurdles,” Dorbor said. She highlighted the operationalization of the loss and damage fund under what she described as the Barbados implementation modality, valued at about $250 million for 2025 and 2026. However, access is limited.“Civil society organizations cannot get that money,” Dorbor said. “The direct phase is only for national budget support.”
In Liberia’s case, she said, institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Disaster Management Agency are eligible to submit proposals.Beyond loss and damage, Dorbor pointed to a major expansion of adaptation finance. Global commitments to triple the adaptation fund to about $120 billion, she said, present a significant opportunity for Liberia, which contributes little to global greenhouse gas emissions.
“That money is an opportunity for Liberia to scale agroecology, clean renewable energy and other adaptation actions,” she said.Dorbor also noted progress on forest-related financing. Liberia, one of West Africa’s most forested countries, pushed for nature-based solutions, including a proposed tropical forest facility fund. The initiative, she said, aims to mobilize up to $125 billion in public and private finance to reward countries and communities that conserve forests.“For a country like Liberia where forests have been kept for a long time, this was a very good opportunity,” Dorbor said.
Youth voices in climate commitments
For Ezekiel Nyanfor, a climate justice advocate, COP30 marked an important step in elevating youth participation in Liberia’s climate commitments.Before the talks, he said, youth groups and civil society organizations worked with the government to help shape Liberia’s third-generation Nationally Determined Contribution, or NDC — the country’s climate action plan under the Paris Agreement.“We ensured that the voices and aspirations of young people were included,” Nyanfor said.
At COP30, discussions with partners such as UNICEF focused on children and youth engagement in climate action. The Liberian government committed to working more closely with young people, he said, and discussions now continue at home with the EPA and UNICEF to translate those commitments into action. Nyanfor also stressed the link between climate action and livelihoods.“Nobody wants to sit and discuss climate change when they don’t have food on the table,” he said. “Climate change is about livelihood.”
He said youth participation in global negotiations remains limited. He was the only young Liberian following adaptation negotiations at COP30, alongside the lead negotiator.“We need to have more young people attending COP,” he said, adding that mentorship and intergenerational equity should be prioritized.
Just transition and people-centered approaches
Elizabeth Gbah Johnson, ActionAid’s country director in Liberia, said COP30 provided space for intense advocacy around fairness for poor and vulnerable countries.“Our focus was on whether women, children and vulnerable communities are being taken seriously,” Johnson said, noting progress but also persistent concerns. She pointed to the adaptation fund as a major opportunity for Liberia but warned that complex access requirements often exclude the countries and communities that need the resources most.“The systems are too challenging,” she said. “That is why many countries do not access the fund.”
Johnson also argued that climate finance should not be channeled only through national governments.“Community-led groups should benefit too,” she said, adding that future negotiations, including COP31, must better factor in gender, youth and grassroots participation.
Rural women and technology transfer
For rural women, COP30 outcomes carry tangible implications, said Yoney Butler of the Liberia Rural Women Organization for Climate Action.Technology transfer, she said, was a key issue for developing countries like Liberia, particularly technologies that support adaptation and mitigation at the community level.One example is clean cooking technology. Butler said improved cookstoves are now being introduced in Liberia, in line with the country’s NDC 3.0, but affordability remains a challenge.
“The imported cookstoves are too costly,” she said. “Rural women do not have the money to pay for them.”
Her organization plans to train women in rural communities to produce their own cookstoves.“They are the ones cooking day after day,” Butler said. “This will help reduce emissions and improve their health.”
Regional solidarity and next steps
Representing the Economic Community of West African States, Emmanuel emphasized the need for regional cooperation.“As Africans, especially in West Africa, we need to support each other,” he said, calling for better forest mapping and stronger mechanisms to ensure that major polluters pay through existing climate funds.
The forum concluded with participants adopting a communiqué to support Liberia’s national climate plans and increase public awareness of best practices for adaptation and mitigation.As Liberia looks ahead to future climate negotiations, panelists agreed that the challenge now lies in turning COP30 commitments into action — ensuring that global promises reach communities, youth and women on the front lines of the climate crisis.
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