By Kimberlyn McKeever
MONROVIA, Aug, 16 (LINA) – The Government of Liberia through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has received the final revised version of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) document.
The NDC, which is geared towards implementing Liberia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, was formulated by the Government of Liberia and its development partners, including the European Union, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Conservation International (CI)
Making opening remarks and giving an overview at the turning over ceremony of the NDC over the weekend, the Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) Coordinator of the EPA, Mr. Jefferson Nyandibo applauded the Partners for a splendid coordination in making the NDC a reality.
« We are gathered here for the purpose of a major milestone being achieved,” Nyandibo explained.
In his overview, Nyandibo said, the NDC which is one of the most anticipated or expected actions to be taken by all parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has been revised and delivered to “this body (UNFCCC) for acceptance,” adding that the document was accepted and Liberia was commended for her robust action in crafting said document.
“The development of Liberia’s NDC, when started, was indeed challenging but with the help of development partners, EU, UNDP and CI through their long-term capacity-building projects, the implementation of the draft revised document became successful,” said Nyandibo.
The NDC is a documentation that has helped to set a roadmap for Liberia with its first phase being the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) which was reviewed and revised and now updated to the NDC.
The INDC had an ambition that is centered on five sectors. The requirement for the revision of the NDC is to make it more ambitious and inclusive, in doing this, additional five sectors were added to the already existing five sectors but later dropped to nine because the last was not capable of standing on its own as a sector.
This decision was made based on some technical reviews and consultations made by the EPA and development partners.
Presenting the document to the Government of Liberia through the EPA, the Country Director of Conservation International, Mr. Peter Mulbah, who spoke on behalf of the development partners, encouraged the EPA Executive Director to develop an implementation modality for the NDC which has to be executed in line with the UNFCCC planned activities.
“We are overwhelmed today to present this document because we did a good job, not only the heads, but also the staff, who are the main drivers in the revision and completion of this very important document,” Mulbah cited.
He mentioned that there will be meetings with the various sectors for an implementation plan and urged technicians to religiously read the document so as to have a clearer picture.
With this document, he said, the country can boast of weather trackers who are working to give an accurate report of the weather condition, agriculturists are also helping farmers identify fertile and degraded soil, Foresters are there ensuring that the forest and wildlife are all conserved, adding, all these could not have been possible without the NDC.
Receiving the document on behalf of the government of Liberia, the Executive Director of the EPA, Prof. Wilson Tarpeh expressed satisfaction over the level of work being done by the development partners, adding that all of these could not have happened if there were no political will from President George M. Weah.
« I have observed and know that my institution is blessed to have hardworking professionals with technical capacities, however, their expertise cannot be realized adequately without a political will and this, the President demonstrated during the first ever National Conference on Climate Change and the Environment,” said Tarpeh.
The EPA Executive Director, at the same time, lauded the development partners for their continuous support and promised to work with them at all times in ensuring that the issue of the environment remains cardinal.
