Monrovia, Liberia – As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthened its collaboration with the Center for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Liberia’s path to a cleaner, greener future took a significant leap ahead. The goal of the partnership is said to train Liberian experts to address urgent environmental challenges.
Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of EPA, called the relationship a game-changer during a welcoming session for French attendees. It’s about people, not just papers here. “A generation of leaders is being developed who will defend Liberia’s environment and speak for us internationally,” he stated.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CISDL and the EPA was formally signed during the 2024 UN Climate Conference in Azerbaijan. The agreement focuses on providing young Liberian professionals with legal education, training, and technical assistance in the fields of environmental governance, sustainable development, and climate legislation.
The relationship supports Liberia’s primary objectives under national and international frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, Dr. Yarkpawolo underlined.
He declared, “This partnership is a direct investment in the future of our nation.” Our environmental issues cannot be resolved by policies alone. We want skilled individuals who are knowledgeable about both the law and science.
He expressed gratitude to CISDL for promoting gender equality, inclusive education, and local ownership values that are consistent with the EPA’s own goal.
“This is your moment, young professionals and students involved,” he said. Get up. Environmental defenders who are knowledgeable, ready, and dedicated are needed in Liberia.
Dr. Yarkpawolo went on to say that the EPA-CISDL collaboration is a strong illustration of how organizations from the Global South and North can collaborate on common objectives rather than altruism. “This demonstrates solidarity,” he remarked.
According to EPA, this collaboration will be crucial in building a knowledgeable and adaptable workforce that is equipped to tackle Liberia’s ongoing problems from pollution, climate change, and habitat loss.
