By Laurina B. Lormia
The World Bank and the Government of Liberia have launched the Country Climate and Development Report towards sustainable development.
During the program, which was held at the Monrovia City Hall on Friday, March 22, 2024, the World Bank Country Manager, Georgia Wallen, said the heart of the CCDR is aimed to shed light on the linkages between development and climate change.
“Simply put, climate change represents one of the biggest threats to our mission to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity on a livable planet. The CCDR helps us to unmask the profound impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable. We know that climate-related shocks are growing more frequent and more intense. The question is how to be prepared by aggressively investing in resilience, particularly for the most vulnerable,” she stated.
Madam Wallen stressed that, “We know that climate-related shocks are growing more frequent and more intense. The question is how to be prepared by aggressively investing in resilience, particularly for the most vulnerable.
She however encouraged Liberians to use the opportunity to think through what climate resilience can look like across public and private sectors, urban and rural, from finance to transport and beyond, noting, “We want you to think practical ways to take this agenda forward.”
The Deputy Minister for Budget and Development Planning at the Ministry of Finance Development Planning, Tanneh Geraldine Brunson, observed that it t has been shown that health, agriculture, peace and security, the ground, and global economy, are under serious threat to climate change, stressing, “it should be a major target and the government of Liberia is working with its resilient partners to ensure critical steps are taken in achieving climate resilience in the country.”
Brunson said the driver of the country’s national and development planning across various sectors is having discussions with partners for the establishment of the climate change finance office, and disclosed that the government is making efforts in working with the President’s vision to rescue the country, which talks about Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, Health, and Tourism, which are serious considerations for climate change,” she stated.
She pointed out that the government’s current commitment to climate change is evidenced by its provision of a little over US$11,000 in the 2024 draft budget saying, “It is critical to show our partners that we take climate change seriously, and if approved, we plan to use these funds to mainstream climate consideration within the development planning and budgeting processes.
World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Robert Taliercio, called on Liberians to prioritize essential climate actions to promote growth and development.
The report forecasts that if urgent climate actions are not taken through adaptation, climate change could potentially undercut Liberia’s economy by up to 15 percent and worsen the poverty outlooks for up to 1.3m Liberians by 2050.
“Liberia is likely to face a growing threat from hotter temperatures and erratic rainfall and climate disasters such as floods, windstorms, and heat waves. The ripple effects are far-reaching. They range from shocks that undermine people’s health, livelihoods, and food security, to economy-wide impacts that undercut revenues and impose high costs for crisis response.”
“Ultimately, we hope the Liberia CCDR report can be a tool for decision-making and thinking together about an agenda for action, to foster green transition and boost resilience while delivering on broader development goals.”
He concluded, “I want to thank the Government of Liberia and all stakeholders for their active involvement, support, and guidance in the process of developing the Liberia CCDR.
