By P. Vangerline Kpotoe
MONROVIA, July 1 (LINA) – The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia (EPA) has stated that climate commitments cannot stay on paper as they must become jobs, enterprises, and resilient livelihoods.
Delivering the official opening address at the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday June 30, 2026 under the theme “Building Competitive, Climate-Resilient and Inclusive MSMEs in Liberia Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of EPA emphasized that climate change is no longer just an environmental concern. It is a core economic and business issue.
Dr. Yarkpawolo told participants that Liberia’s Nationally Determined Contribution, NDC, is more than a report submitted internationally. He described it as a practical investment guide and a business opportunity framework that can drive innovation, employment, and community resilience. “If MSMEs do not act on it, he warned, the country will miss a chance to translate climate policy into economic value”
The EPA boss grounded his remarks in everyday realities. He noted that climate change is already reshaping how Liberian businesses operate, stressing that floods are damaging roads and markets as coastal erosion is threatening homes and investments. Erratic rainfall is disrupting farmers, processors, and traders. Expensive energy is weakening competitiveness, while poor waste management is hurting both public health and urban productivity.
He centered MSMEs in the conversation, calling them the backbone of Liberia’s economy. He said that they create jobs, sustain families, deliver essential services, and fuel local entrepreneurship. Yet he acknowledged their vulnerability. Many lack affordable finance, insurance, modern technology, reliable climate data, and infrastructure that can withstand shocks.
At the same time, he stressed that MSMEs are not only at risk. They are indispensable partners for delivering climate solutions at scale.
Referencing NDC 3.0, Dr. Yarkpawolo outlined Liberia’s national target: a 64 percent reduction in economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
According to him, ten percent is unconditional and will be pursued with domestic effort. The remaining 54 percent is conditional and depends on international finance, technology transfer, capacity building, and strong partnerships.
He said the government cannot reach these goals alone. The private sector, financial institutions, cooperatives, municipalities, farmers, transport operators, waste collectors, recyclers, solar firms, clean-cooking ventures, and women- and youth-led enterprises must all play a role.
The shift, he argued, must be from observing climate policy to implementing it. The EPA boss mapped out concrete business openings across multiple sectors. In energy, he pointed to solar installation and maintenance, mini-grids, battery storage, clean cooking, LPG distribution, biogas, energy-efficient appliances, and energy audits. In agriculture,
He highlighted climate-smart farming, irrigation, resilient seed systems, organic fertilizer and compost, post-harvest storage, cold chains, and food processing. For waste, he listed collection, recycling, buy-back centers, composting, methane reduction, and community-based enterprises.
In forestry and land use, he cited tree nurseries, restoration, alternatives to charcoal, ecosystem-based livelihoods, and nature-based solutions. For water, sanitation, and health, he mentioned solar-powered water systems, flood-resilient sanitation, drainage maintenance, and climate-smart services for vulnerable communities.
Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized that these are not abstract policy concepts. They are viable markets where Liberian firms can cut costs, create jobs, enter new markets, and contribute directly to national climate targets.
Among other things, the EPA Chief urged MSMEs to treat documentation as a business discipline, adding that enterprises must track energy saved, waste collected, emissions reduced, farmers served, jobs created, and women and youth employed.