Dr. Yarkpawolo said the financial consequences of climate disasters are particularly damaging for developing countries because governments are often forced to redirect money originally intended for essential services toward emergency response and reconstruction
MONROVIA — The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, has urged Liberia and the international community to rethink the way climate finance is provided to vulnerable countries, warning that efforts to respond to climate change must not leave countries like Liberia deeper in debt.
Dr. Yarkpawolo made the call Wednesday, August 5 in Monrovia during the launch of the ActionAid Climate Debt Audit Report, where he challenged government officials, development partners, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to place accountability and climate justice at the center of Liberia’s response to the climate crisis.
The EPA Executive Director said climate change has moved far beyond the traditional boundaries of environmental protection, arguing that its consequences are increasingly being felt in national security, human rights, public health, livelihoods and economic development.
He said the country’s vulnerability to rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, flooding, coastal degradation and other climate-related hazards means the country cannot afford to treat climate action as an issue that can be addressed only when resources become available.
“Climate change is no longer simply an environmental issue. It has become a security, human rights and development challenge, and Liberia must respond to it with the seriousness that the situation demands. Every flood, drought, coastal erosion event or other climate-related disaster places additional pressure on communities and on a government that already has limited resources to provide basic services,” he said.
Dr. Yarkpawolo said the financial consequences of climate disasters are particularly damaging for developing countries because governments are often forced to redirect money originally intended for essential services toward emergency response and reconstruction.
He explained that when a climate disaster occurs, resources that could have been invested in schools, hospitals, agriculture, roads, energy and other development priorities are instead required to address immediate humanitarian and infrastructure needs.
According to him, the situation creates a cycle in which climate-vulnerable countries struggle to sustain development because repeated disasters continuously consume scarce public resources.
He said: “When a climate-related disaster strikes, the consequences go beyond the immediate loss of lives and property. Government is forced to move resources from education, healthcare, agriculture, energy and other critical sectors into emergency response and recovery. That means climate change can reverse development gains, increase poverty and place an even greater burden on already-constrained national budgets.”
The EPA chief also used the occasion to reinforce Liberia’s position on international climate responsibility, particularly the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
He argued that although all countries have a responsibility to contribute to solving the global climate crisis, nations that have historically contributed the greatest share of greenhouse gas emissions have a corresponding responsibility to provide meaningful support to countries that are suffering the consequences despite contributing relatively little to the problem.
Dr. Yarkpawolo said climate finance must therefore be predictable, accessible and adequate, particularly for countries such as Liberia that require significant resources to adapt to climate impacts and address loss and damage.
He added: “Liberia cannot be expected to borrow commercially every time we suffer the consequences of a climate crisis that we did very little to create. Climate finance should not become another mechanism through which vulnerable countries accumulate unsustainable debt. The countries with the greatest historical responsibility must fulfill their commitments and provide financing that enables vulnerable nations to adapt, mitigate and recover without sacrificing their development future.”
However, Dr. Yarkpawolo cautioned that Liberia’s demand for greater international climate justice must be matched by stronger accountability at home.
He said international partners and donors must have confidence that resources provided to Liberia for climate action will be properly managed, transparently accounted for and directed toward the communities and projects for which they are intended.
He called for stronger public financial management, improved procurement systems, greater transparency and intensified anti-corruption measures as part of efforts to strengthen Liberia’s climate finance architecture.
Continuing, he added: “International climate justice must go hand in hand with domestic accountability. We cannot demand greater climate finance from the international community while failing to strengthen the systems that manage those resources. Liberia must demonstrate that climate funds will be transparently managed, properly procured, effectively monitored and delivered to the communities that need them most.”
The EPA Executive Director also urged Liberia to look beyond the challenges posed by climate change and take advantage of the country’s significant environmental assets.
He pointed to the country’s extensive forests, coastal ecosystems and other natural resources as potential foundations for climate-resilient economic development. According to him, investments in forest conservation, ecosystem restoration, blue carbon initiatives, sustainable agriculture and responsible carbon market development could simultaneously protect biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and create economic opportunities.
Dr. Yarkpawolo said the country’s natural resources should not merely be viewed as environmental assets but also as opportunities to improve livelihoods, generate employment and attract responsible climate investment.
He further recommended reforms aimed at improving the country’s ability to access and manage climate finance. Among the measures he highlighted were stronger national climate finance management
systems, predictable resources for adaptation and loss-and-damage programs, and greater direct access to financing for communities, women and young people.
The EPA chief also called for increased investment in renewable energy and sustainable waste management, describing both areas as important components of a broader strategy to reduce environmental pressures while creating opportunities for sustainable economic development.
He urged developed and developing countries alike to uphold their respective responsibilities, stressing that climate action cannot succeed through isolated efforts by governments or international institutions.
Dr. Yarkpawolo said meaningful climate action requires international solidarity, responsible governance and careful investment, adding that the ultimate objective should be to ensure that climate resources produce measurable benefits for vulnerable communities rather than becoming trapped in administrative systems.
Meanwhile, ActionAid Liberia Country Director Elizabeth Gbah Johnson commended stakeholders who participated in the launch of the Climate Debt Audit Report, describing the discussions as an important contribution to Liberia’s broader climate justice debate.
Madam Johnson said the engagement demonstrated the value of bringing government, civil society, development partners and communities together to examine the financial and social dimensions of climate change.
She stressed that climate change affects virtually every segment of Liberian society, from household livelihoods and agriculture to national economic planning and development.
According to her, the challenge now is to transform discussions surrounding climate justice and climate debt into practical policies and programs capable of protecting vulnerable populations and strengthening Liberia’s resilience.
She also emphasized the importance of openness, accountability and cooperation among stakeholders, saying these principles must remain central to Liberia’s pursuit of sustainable climate solutions.
The ActionAid Liberia Country Director thanked participants, facilitators, advisors and development partners for their contributions to the dialogue, saying their participation demonstrated a shared commitment to confronting the challenges posed by climate change.
She encouraged continued cooperation at national, regional and international levels, stressing that Liberia will require sustained partnerships to mobilize the resources and technical expertise necessary to address climate vulnerabilities.
The launch of the ActionAid Climate Debt Audit Report has consequently opened another national conversation around the relationship between climate change, development financing and public debt, while placing Liberia’s own accountability mechanisms under renewed scrutiny.
