By P. Vangerline Kpotoe

MONROVIA, July 16 (LINA) – The Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dweh Boley, has emphasized the critical need to address coastal resilience in response to the impacts of climate change.

According to Boley, climate change is a pressing global issue due to its ongoing threat to human livelihoods.

Speaking Friday, July 12, 2024, at the signing ceremony of a project to enhance the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities in Sinoe County, Boley stated that the evidence of climate change is apparent in Liberia, as the country faces challenges such as sea-level rise, erratic weather patterns, disasters, and more intense rainfall events.

He lamented that Climate change is likely to continue to increase the frequency and intensity of coastal and riverine flooding and erosion in Liberia, adding that the livelihood and ecosystem of coastal communities are negatively impacted by climate hazards.

"It is a great pleasure to be here with some friends and distinguished colleagues from government ministries and agencies. Our purpose here today is to commit to an environmental program because of global warming or climate change," he stressed.

The EPA Deputy Director noted that the project aims to build upon previous efforts by the GEF to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities in Liberia.

Boley emphasized the need to strengthen institutional capacity for climate adaptation planning, support innovative technologies for climate information and communication management, introduce hybrid adaptation solutions, and support resilient livelihood diversification through training and improved access to finance.

The project intends to protect coastal communities and their assets from future climate change impacts by implementing sea and river defense and risk management approaches while simultaneously enhancing income streams through livelihood diversification.

"The objectives of the project are to be achieved through four complementary project components that will be implemented in Liberia's coastal areas. The cooperation of these communities is very key to the successful implementation of the project," Boley maintained.

The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the EPA, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Public Works Ministry, and UNDP Liberia.