Liberia: Climate Advocates Return from Innovative Climate Governance Tour in Chile

A team of Liberian climate solutions enthusiasts has since returned to the country from the recent South-South Learning Intervention on Multi-Level Climate Governance (SSLI:MLCG) tour, held from November 23 to December 2, 2023, in Chile.

Financed by Environment Climate Change Canada (ECCC) through NovaSpere Canada, this MRV for Climate Action Program brought together 17 participants from Liberia, Ghana, and The Gambia. The participants said that the tour provided invaluable insights into innovative climate governance strategies.

Members of the Liberian delegation were: Charles Asumana Sr. (UL), Emmanuel T. Olatunji (UL), Isaac Nyaneyon Kannah (FDA), and Vermon Sangah Lloyd (FDA). Others were, Tinatua Calvin Kollie (EPA NCCS), Nick B. Goll II (EPA), Gehnyea Yai Gbeanquoi (MoPW), and J. Negatus Wright (MME). The rest were Abraham T.V. Kreku (Local Government, Grand Gedeh), Saylee Levi Teah Jr. (Civil Society, Grand Bassa), and Choma Krayee (Civil Society, Grand Gedeh). The team traveled to the Chilean capital Santiago, Valpraiso, a nearby port city, and Antofagasta, the driest region of the world.

In Santiago, participants attended learning sessions at the University of Chile and explored multi-level coordination for compliance with National Framework Climate Law. They also visited La Pintana and Peñalolén, observing municipal green areas, recycling programme, community-led climate initiatives, and local governance.

In Antofagasta, the delegation was welcomed by the Regional Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment & Energy and participated in meetings with regional government officials. They visited notable sites like Cerro Dominador (largest solar concentrator in the Americas) and engaged in discussions on regional climate action plans.

Dr. Asumana Sr., the Principal Investigator, emphasized the transformative impact of Chile’s integrated climate governance frameworks. “The SSLI-MLCG initiative aims to support countries in aligning their climate actions using a bottom-up approach”, he said. Delegates gained insights expected to elevate ongoing transformative pilots in climate governance, such as solidifying multi-level climate governance in Liberia, operationalizing and strengthening the National Climate Change Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups, and the development and launch of a permanent MRV for Climate Action Curriculum for Tertiary Education. 

Saylee Levi Teah Jr., representing the civil society, reflected on the multi-level approach to climate governance, noting the importance of cohesive action across different government levels. He noted that the program’s focus on practical, hands-on learning has been a key factor in its success, offering delegates a real-world context to the challenges and solutions in climate governance.

The SSLI-MLCG initiative, detailed in a comprehensive concept note, aims to support countries like Liberia, Ghana, Togo, and The Gambia in aligning their climate actions at various spatial scales. Through immersive experiences, delegates gained invaluable insights, which are expected to elevate their ongoing transformative pilots in climate governance and possibly, create new pilots. On December 19-20, 2023, the Liberian delegates held a collaborative meeting at the Quelu’s Farms and Resort in Careysburg to discuss how insights from the Chilean trip can enhance their transformative national pilot projects and creatively explore new pilots. The team concluded a plan of action to implement the learning objectives and advance specific recommendations for relevant national institutions and strategies for authority engagement in Liberia  

Chile’s pioneering experiences in climate action provide hope for effective global climate governance. The SSLI:MLCG cutting-edge study tour showcases the power of shared learning and international collaboration in combating climate change, offering lessons not just for the participating countries but for the global community in striving towards sustainable climate governance.