Climate Change Network Launches Environmental Awareness in Liberia

To help mitigate climate change and its adverse effect, a newly established non-governmental organization, Climate Change Network (CCN), has launched a massive environmental awareness campaign for citizens in Montserrado and its environs.

The campaign, which was launched recently in Monrovia, is intended to educate citizens, including teachers and students on the adverse effect on climate change and how to put in place mitigation measures that will save the lives of our people and communities, respectively. 

CCN was established on April 3, 2021, to help the government reduce the emissions that cause climate change in the country and the world at large. 

This campaign, according to her, will enable citizens to understand decisions and actions that can be taken locally and globally to encourage sustainable living.

Princess Meapeh Wonyen, founder and executive director of CCN, said the objective of the awareness is to mainly educate citizens, particularly teachers and students on the adverse effect on climate change. What mechanism can be put in place to mitigate measures that all Liberians can help combat climate change. 

Wonyen, who spoke to the Daily Observer in an exclusive interview, said public awareness and knowledge of the risks amongst residents in vulnerable communities is crucial to the successful planning for climate change adaptation.

She further indicated that the fight against climate change is one that requires a collective effort of everyone to join onboard and find mitigation measures that will help combat climate change in Liberia and the world at large.

A World Bank report estimated that an additional 120 plus million people globally are likely to be pushed into poverty by 2030. Between 2030 and 2050, the World Health Organization also predicted an additional 250,000 deaths yearly due to climate change impacts.  

However, Wonyen said the awareness strategy by her organization would among other things assist community dwellers and students to understand the consequences of human activities on the earth and its resources. 

She said, “This is our first initiative that we are carrying on and will last for twelve months but we are appealing to the government through the EPA for sponsorship that will help us do more programs on climate change.”

Wonyen recalled that severe flooding experienced in recent years, changes in rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, and other climate changes have serious implications for food security but also for health, education, and other development sectors.

Confronting this threat, CCN executive director said, “We intend to work with all primary and secondary schools in the country, reaching them with climate messages and how to mitigate them.”

Also, Neenjaye Warner, CCN Program Director, noted that if the citizens are drilled on proper environmental knowledge and practices that will be sustainable at the end of the project.

She said, “At the end of training, we will hope to minimize those issues that are greatly affecting our society as a result of climate change in the world.” Ms. Warner said that the awareness that is being carried out by them would go a long way in environmental sustainability for the present and future generations.