Liberia is set to take center stage at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as its Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) convenes a high‑level dialogue exploring how natural resources can serve as pathways to peace, resilience, and sustainable development.
The event, titled “The Nexus between Climate, Conflict, and Natural Resources: Pathways to Peace, Resilience, and Sustainable Development”, will be held on Wednesday, September 23, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT at the Westin New York Grand Central. It comes as Liberia embarks on its 2026–2027 term on the U.N. Security Council, a role the country has embraced with a pledge to advance global peace and justice.
EPA Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo will welcome participants, while Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti will formally open the dialogue. U.N. Under‑Secretary‑General Haoliang Xu, associate administrator of the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP), will deliver the keynote address, “Climate Change as a Threat Multiplier and Global Security Imperative.”
Guests will also view a documentary showcasing Liberia’s natural capital — its forests, rivers, minerals, and coastline — underscoring how these resources sustain livelihoods across all 15 counties.
A distinguished panel will follow, moderated by Francine Pickup, UNDP deputy assistant administrator. Speakers include:
Ali Daud Mohamed, Kenya’s special envoy for climate change and former chair of the African Group of Negotiators, who will highlight integrated approaches linking resilience, peacebuilding, and resource governance.
Antwi‑Boasiako Amoah, chair of the African Group of Negotiators and director for adaptation at Ghana’s EPA, who will provide African perspectives on climate security, with emphasis on the Sahel and West Africa.
Jeanine Milly Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of the Liberia Carbon Markets Authority, who will explore how carbon markets and climate finance can deliver community benefits while protecting the environment.
Naquetta Ricks, Colorado state representative and president of the African Chamber of Commerce Colorado, who will reflect on diaspora contributions to climate‑resilient investment.
Oretha Juah Bestman‑Yates, a climate change survivor, who will share a personal account of how shifting weather patterns are affecting Liberian lives and livelihoods.
Liberia’s EPA hopes the dialogue will showcase the country’s journey of peace and resilience since the end of civil conflict more than two decades ago. By linking natural resource stewardship to stability, the agency aims to encourage collaboration across Africa and beyond.
“Liberia’s forests, rivers, minerals, and coastline are not just resources — they are lifelines,” Dr. Yarkpawolo noted ahead of the event. “Our experience demonstrates that protecting these assets strengthens communities, builds resilience, and fosters peace.”
The program will conclude with each panelist offering one practical recommendation for world leaders, development partners, and investors. A question‑and‑answer session will allow participants to engage directly with the experts, ensuring the dialogue produces actionable insights.
Established in 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia is the nation’s principal environmental regulator. Its mandate includes pollution control, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable resource management.
The EPA leads Liberia’s implementation of commitments under key multilateral agreements, including the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification.
As Liberia hosts this dialogue during UNGA, the country underscores its dual role: steward of rich natural resources and advocate for global peace. The EPA’s initiative reflects a growing recognition that climate change is not only an environmental challenge but also a security imperative.
By convening leaders, negotiators, and community voices, Liberia seeks to transform climate challenges into opportunities for peace, prosperity, and shared resilience.
