In the context of the Paris Agreement signed in 2016, Liberia made pledges to reduce methane emissions as captured in the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The waste and agriculture sectors are two of the main emitters of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to global warming as it is over 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat over a 100-year period. Hence, reducing methane emissions is considered a crucial aspect of global climate change mitigation efforts.
GREENLIFE West Africa is a regional development NGO working with Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency to develop the country’s Methane Roadmap and Action Plan. The project entitled, ‘Liberia: Deliver National Methane Roadmap’ is funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) convened initiative to reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs).
A major step in the development of Liberia’s Methane Roadmap was the establishment of the Methane Technical Working Group (MTWG), which was established during a one-day workshop held on October 8, 2023 in Monrovia. The MTWG brings together a diverse range of experts including scientists, environmentalists, government officials, representatives from the private sector, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
The MTWG is expected to play a pivotal role in the development of Liberia’s Methane Roadmap and Action Plan, setting a positive example for other nations striving to address the pressing issue of climate change.
The main objectives of the MTWG is to assist in the design and implementation of the Methane Roadmap and Action Plan through data collection and sharing, and capacity building to support activities geared towards methane reduction in the country. The MTWG is also expected to ensure that the Methane Roadmap and Action Plan is smoothly adopted into all national policies and action plans during and beyond the project period.
The collaborative effort between the EPA and GREENLIFE West Africa underscores Liberia’s commitment to meeting its climate targets and fostering a greener and more sustainable future.
Moreover, on the regional front, GREENLIFE West Africa will continue to implement low emissions development activities in other countries including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea.
During the workshop, Madam Magaret Beslow of the EPA expressed enthusiasm about the establishment of the MTWG. She said, “Liberia recognizes the urgent need to tackle climate change and its adverse effects on our environment. By forming the MTWG, Liberia is taking proactive steps to identify, assess, and implement strategies to reduce methane emissions within our borders.”
