Senate ratifies Climate change agreement

Members of the Liberian Senate have ratified the United Nations’ framework on climate change known as the ‘The Paris Agreement.’ Following ratification on Thursday, 14 June, the Senate subsequently forwarded the agreement to the House of Representatives for possible concurrence.

The Senate took the decision based on a recommendation by the Foreign Relations Commission which says the instrument is in the interest of the state.“After reviewing and critically analyzing the Paris Agreement, Liberia stands to benefit financial and technological support in maintaining low climate resilience through effective adaptation and greenhouse gas emission reduction,” the committee headed by Maryland County Senator H. Dan Morais says.

According to Sen. Morais, the agreement by ratification will assist Liberia as a developing country to adapt to the effect of climate change and access funding from the Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund and other funds pledged by developed countries in mitigating the effect of climate change.

The committee further maintains that it has gone through examination of ratifications by 178 Countries of the 195 countries and realized Liberia is among the 17 Countries that have not ratified.

The Committee says this is not the place for Liberia as signatory to this Agreement and adaptation since 2015. It says it has also done due diligence of the content of Paris Agreement on climate change and realized that its adaptation will bring immense benefits to protecting Liberia Green Forest which is the largest in West Africa.

Speaking to reporters following the passage last Thursday, 14 June at the Senate’s Plenary, Senator Morais noted that the decision is in compliance with Article 34(f) of the Liberian Constitution of 1986.

The provision quoted mandates the Legislature to approve treaties, conventions and such other international agreements. The Plenary of the Liberian Senate during the 53rd Legislature received for concurrence from the House of Representatives the UNFCC Paris Agreement.

Plenary instructed the Secretary of the Senate to forward the convention to the Committee on Foreign Relations for review and subsequent advice to the Plenary.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor–Edited by Winston W. Parley