High school students discuss climate change

Students from various institutions have applauded the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, for conducting a two-day workshop on climate change.

According to the students, they are delighted to form part of the workshop held over the weekend to discuss climate change and its adverse impacts on Liberia.

Speaking to participants at the close of the workshop, student Amelia Cole of the ST. Theresa Convent Catholic School expressed delight to have learnt more on issues that affect the environment, including climate, deforestation, and the green house gas, saying, “I am very happy to be invited by the EPA to discuss climate change issues, because it poses danger to every citizens in the country.”

Miss Amelia Cole, an 11th grader, said challenges posed by climate change are not only restricted to the EPA, but rather something that requires the collaborative effort of every citizen.

She stressed that climate change is responsible for many people to become homeless as a result of sea erosion, noting that climate change and deforestation have huge impact on every sector of the country.

Liberia’s climatic condition in the last decay has been unstable with the rainy season which usually starts in April and ends in October each year, now irregular. The country is experiencing severe heat almost three months into the rainy season.

The EPA over the weekend hosted the two days workshop for students, civil society groups, and stakeholders at the Monrovia YMCA on Crown Hill, Broad Street under the auspices of the United Nations Economics Commission for Africa (UNECA).

At the same time Miss Joyce Sampah of the 10th grade class at St. Theresa Convent Catholic School told participants that climate change poses threat to every sector of the country, including rural dwellers, especially farmers, who are unable to plant their crops either due to drought or server rain, which imposes serious challenge to rural farmers.

She noted that climate change also affects the health sector, because whenever it rains, communities are flooded, as a result, many innocent people lost their homes and other belongings, while others suffer from malaria and other harmful diseases.

Joyce also called on relevant stakeholders to join the EPA in devising strategies to help tackle the problem.

Another student, Jessica T.S. Neufville a 9th grader of the Matilda Newport Jr. High School, a public high school on Newport Street, Monrovia said it is important for students to have knowledge on issues that directly affects them in society because they are the future generation.

According to her, the involvement of students in training programs on climate change and deforestation will pave the way for others who are still in doubt to exposed and accept the reality.

Miss Neufville said training should be carried out in every county for students in rural parts of the country to have ideas on climate change and its effects, saying, “Rural dwellers are the people, who are always in the constant habit of cutting down trees without replanting.” Edited by Jonathan Browne