Published: December 17, 2025
By David Menjor and Alphanso G. Kalama
MONROVIA— In the grand halls of the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, voices from the farms, fishing communities, classrooms and corridors of power gathered this week for a two-day summit and shared a simple but concentrated message: climate action in Liberia must be just, inclusive and deeply rooted in the realities of its people, the people of Liberia whose survival depends on safe environments.
The event, coined as “The National People’s Summit on Climate Justice” yesterday came to an end with hopes and aspirations directed at dealing with more tasks, including the calling of policy decision makers to act in the best interest of the country. ActionAid Liberia, with support from its partners, mainly local non-governmental organizations (NGO), staged the summit, the second edition, to note.
The summit brought together government ministries and agencie, civil society organizations, rural women farmers, youth movements, private sector actors, academics, media representatives, regional institutions and development partners. Convened by both state and non-state actors, the summit culminated in a sweeping communique that calls for a just transition and transitional justice in Liberia’s climate response, one that prioritizes equity, accountability and community leadership.
Despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions, Liberia remains one of the countries that is most exposed to devastating climate impacts. Costal erosion, flooding, storms and displacement of people by natural disaster occurrences continue to rise with limited support for recovery or adaptation. Livelihood continued to be disrupted and food insecurity becoming even more troubling due to the impact of devastating climate change.
The adverse consequences have proven to be deeply rooted in disproportionate burdens on women, youth, children, persons with disabilities and informal workers.
“We affirm the urgency of advancing climate justice, equity and people-centered development in Liberia,” the participants declared, noting that climate shocks continue to expose gaps in disaster preparedness, early warning systems, financing and institutional coordination.
Building on Past Commitments
The summit was not just an event of present day realities but also a reflection space on the past challenges and the commitments from all actors towards mitigating the burdens confronting the society.
It can be recalled that at the 2024 edition of “The People-Centered National Stakeholder Summit on Climate Justice,” commitments were made while the acknowledgment of progress made was also highlighted
From the the conduct of the 2024 Summit, it became clear that gains were made, including increased government engagement on agroecology, climate finance, domestic resource mobilization and more inclusive processes for Liberia’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
At this year’s Summit, the participants also reaffirmed Liberia’s alignment with regional and global frameworks, including ECOWAS processes, the Africa Adaptation Development Pathway and the country’s long-term commitment to net-zero development—while stressing that global promises must translate into tangible benefits for communities on the ground.
Agroecology at the center
At the heart of the communique is a decisive call to elevate agroecology as a cornerstone of Liberia’s agricultural and climate strategy. The participants committed to ensuring that agroecology cuts across national policies on agriculture, climate, nutrition, land and food systems, with a focus or resilience, biodiversity protection and inclusive rural livelihoods.
The plan emphasizes investment in soil regeneration, water conservation, diverse cropping systems and locally adapted seed systems, alongside education and advisory services — particularly for women and youth smallholder farmers. Protecting land rights also featured prominently, with calls to strengthen land governance, enforce existing laws and prevent land grabbing and displacement linked to large-scale agriculture.
Participants urged reforms to the Comprehensive Agriculture, Agribusiness and Agroecology Development Program to ensure accountability and meaningful participation from farmers, women’s movements, youth networks and children’s associations in planning, monitoring and reporting.
Unlocking people-driven climate finance
A recurring theme throughout the summit was the urgent need to reform climate finance. Africa currently receives less than 5% of global climate finance, and in Liberia, most funds remain tied to international mechanisms that are difficult for local actors to access.
This gap persists despite evidence that locally led adaptation can be up to 50% more effective and cost-efficient.
The communique calls for establishing inclusive, people-driven climate finance mechanisms that channel resources directly to frontline communities, women-led organizations, youth groups and grassroots initiatives. Participants also pressed for greater transparency, coordination and accountability in climate finance governance, as well as better alignment with priorities such as agroecology, renewable energy, disaster preparedness and green job creation.
A just energy transition
Addressing energy poverty and unemployment, the summit outlined a vision for a just energy transition anchored in renewable energy and green jobs. Commitments include scaling up decentralized, off-grid and community-based renewable energy solutions to expand access in rural and underserved areas.
The communique also calls for investing in skills development for women and youth across renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management, ecosystem restoration and climate-resilient value chains — ensuring that energy transition policies are rights-based, gender-responsive and aligned with national development goals.
Preparing for climate shocks
With climate-induced disasters accelerating, participants urged stronger national and community-level disaster preparedness, including early warning systems, climate risk mapping, contingency planning and pre-positioned response financing.
They endorsed a “quadruple humanitarian approach” — prevention, preparedness, response and collaboration — integrated into broader climate adaptation and development strategies. Disaster risk management systems, the communique stresses, must be community-led and inclusive of women, youth and persons with disabilities.
A collective path forward
The summit concluded with a call to legislate and operationalize cost-effective, people-centered climate solutions aligned with Liberia’s NDC 3.0, prioritizing adaptation, loss and damage, and climate justice. Participants also emphasized regional solidarity through ECOWAS, the Mano River Union, and other African platforms to strengthen Liberia’s negotiating power in future climate processes.
Beyond declarations, the signatories, representing state and non-state actors, women’s groups, youth groups, farmers, and communities across Liberia, are committed to sustained dialogue, movement-building, and collective monitoring of progress.
“This communique is not an endpoint,” participants affirmed. “It is a shared tool to advance climate justice, conflict resolution, and people-centered development for Liberia.”
The statement was adopted and signed on Dec. 16, 2025, marking what many attendees described as a turning point in Liberia’s pursuit of a just, inclusive and resilient climate future.
Madam Loretha Pope Kai, head of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, read the Statement.
The Deputy Director for the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA), Anthony Kollie responded to the communique on behalf of the government, assuring ActionAid and its partners as well as the participants that his office and the government in general looks forward to working with all projects aimed at mitigating the negative impacts of climate change.
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