Climate change undermines state capacity

Liberia continues to witness frequent flooding, erratic rainfalls, pest infestation, increase waterborne diseases and heavy storm as a result of climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA has reported.

The EPA also said climate change poses significant threat to capacity building in the country.  Addressing stakeholders Thursday, July 16, at the close of a two-day workshop held at the Monrovia City Hall, EPA Executive Director, Madam Anyaa Vohiri, said it’s an open secret that the consequences of climate change in Liberia could impede economic growth and significantly affect human development and the ability to make progress toward achieving the poverty reduction benchmark as stipulated by the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs.

According to the EPA Boss if no drastic action is taken to address climate change related issues in Liberia, climate change will continues to undermine the state capacity to provide opportunities and services that are meant to improved rural livelihood and increase human health security.

She told participants at the workshop that” Liberia is a party to United Nation Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC), and we anticipate this new agreement to limit temperature increase to zero degree cerci us, she noted that parties have agree to publicly outline what action they intend to take under a global agreement as commitments which is known as intended National Determined Contribution (INDC).  

Madam Vohiri narrated that Liberia’s INDC will put forward the country’s contribution in the context of national priorities, circumstances and capabilities, with aim of reducing emission to avert the worst impacts of climate change.

According to her, in 2013 the EPA prepared an initial national communication, saying, “This report was there to meet Liberia’s obligation under the UNFCCC, covering thematic areas such as national greenhouse gas, inventories impacts, vulnerability and adaptation assessment.

She said the report will also focus on four key economic sectors in Liberia such as energy, forestry, agriculture, and waste, which have not only contributed to a better understanding of the emission sources of greenhouse gas here, but to also identify some important sectors of the national economy that could be adversely affected by climate change impacts such as coastal zones and agriculture.

According to statistics, energy sector accounted for 67% of the total greenhouse gas emission, followed by agriculture (31%) and waste (0%), adding that in 2008 the EPA following a vulnerability and adaptation assessment across the country, developed the National Adaptation Programmed of Action or NAPA, which provides a process for least developed countries to identify priority activities that respond to their immediate needs. By Lewis S. Teh