Africa-Press – Liberia. Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (right) signed the declaration on behalf of the country.
Liberia has pledged renewed commitment to integrating children and young people into the heart of its climate action efforts, following the signing of the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action on November 11, 2025, in Belém, Brazil.
The event took place during the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), bringing together global leaders to strengthen cooperation on youth-led climate initiatives.
Representing the Government of Liberia, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), signed the declaration on behalf of the country. In his remarks, Dr. Yarkpawolo described the declaration as a historic step toward recognizing the rights and voices of young people in the fight against climate change. He said the initiative underscores the moral and generational responsibility shared by governments to safeguard the planet for children and future generations.
“The climate crisis is not only a scientific or environmental challenge — it is a moral one,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “It is about the future of ourselves, our children, and generations yet unborn. This declaration recognizes the vital role of children and young people as agents of change. It reminds us that climate action must protect the most vulnerable while empowering them to shape solutions.”
Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized that Liberia’s endorsement of the declaration aligns with its ongoing national efforts to integrate youth leadership and innovation into the country’s climate response framework. He said the government remains committed to ensuring that young people are not only beneficiaries of climate programs but also active decision-makers.
Liberia’s participation in the declaration, he noted, directly supports the country’s new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), launched earlier at COP30. The NDC 3.0 outlines Liberia’s strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening resilience, and accelerating sustainable development, with a central focus on inclusion, education, and youth engagement.
“Our NDC 3.0 places young people at the center of climate innovation,” he explained. “It calls for scaling up green jobs, expanding environmental education, and promoting youth-driven adaptation and mitigation across every sector, including our schools. In Liberia, we believe no climate solution is complete without the active participation of young people.”
Dr. Yarkpawolo also highlighted ongoing initiatives in Liberia aimed at putting these commitments into action. These include youth-led environmental clubs, climate leadership training programs, and stronger participation of young professionals in national and local environmental governance.
The EPA has also worked closely with the Ministry of Education and other partners to expand environmental education and awareness programs in schools across the country.
According to Dr. Yarkpawolo, the signing of the declaration is a clear signal that Liberia is serious about placing children’s and youth rights at the center of its climate policy.
“As we sign this declaration, we are saying that our children’s dreams and rights are not afterthoughts—they are the foundation of our climate policy,” he said. “We are choosing to invest in their capacity, protect their environment, and amplify their voices from the classroom to the Cabinet room.”
The Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action, backed by governments, civil society, and international agencies, seeks to strengthen cooperation in promoting climate education, youth empowerment, and protection of children from climate-related risks. It calls on signatory nations to ensure that young people are meaningfully involved in the design, implementation, and monitoring of national climate policies and programs.
Addressing youth leaders present at the signing, Dr. Yarkpawolo delivered a message of hope and inclusion. “To the youth of Liberia and the world—you are not too young to lead, and we are not too old to listen,” he said. “Let this declaration be our shared promise that science, communication, and faith in a better future will guide us toward a safer, more sustainable planet.”
He reaffirmed that Liberia’s involvement in the declaration is part of a broader vision to promote environmental justice, intergenerational equity, and sustainable development. Liberia, he said, remains committed to working with global partners to implement policies that protect both the environment and the rights of future generations.
“On behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia and the Government of Liberia, I am honored to sign this declaration,” Dr. Yarkpawolo concluded. “Together, we are not only protecting our climate but also ensuring that our children inherit a planet where they can thrive.”
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