Liberia enters clean air planning journey

Clean air is an essential human right and an important element of public health and environmental sustainability. The significance of maintaining clean air in Liberia is accentuated by the persistent challenges posed by air pollutants, mainly from SLCPs such as methane, and black carbon.

Activities from the waste and agriculture sectors are the primary sources of methane emission, while wood and charcoal consumption, as well as the open burning of waste from homes, open dumpsites, and agricultural residues, are the significant sources of black carbon and other air pollutants emitted in Liberia. In 2017, charcoal consumption in the residential sector contributed 48% of total black carbon emissions in Liberia, followed by residential wood consumption, which contributed 34%. In the commercial sector, charcoal consumption contributed 3% to the total black carbon emissions. Wood combustion in food production contributed 7% of total national emissions in the industrial sector. 

These pollutants contribute to climate change and have immediate and severe effects on respiratory health, agriculture, and overall quality of life. The 2023 WHO health and environmental scorecard for Liberia shows that nearly 100% of the population has no access to clean fuels and technology for cooking, implying a considerable reliance on the use of charcoal and other unclean fuel sources for energy. The scorecard found, on average, that air pollutants were seven times higher than recommended WHO guidelines and that 52% of deaths from stroke and heart disease were caused by air pollution. 

Local implementers and community members in Liberia are increasingly recognizing the urgent need to address air pollution and its impacts on public health. 
Mr. Myers F. Gibson, chairman of the Whein Town Community, where the country's only and current landfill is located, has this to say when the landfill recently gutted fire due to methane combustion: "Our living condition in this community is so pathetic; you can even see my little daughter is suffering from the cough from the smoke. From the quality of my voice, it tells you that I am suffering from a cough. It is unbearable. We are calling on the international community and national government to immediately close this place and see how best they can quash this fire."

Mr. Darius Barrolle, the Country Manager for Green Life West Africa, one of the local implementing partners for the CCAC and the EPA, has this to say about air pollution: "Poor waste management in Liberia is one of the causes of bad air quality and the emission of harmful air pollutants into the atmosphere, therefore exacerbating the effects of climate change and causing health problems for those living here." 

Recognizing the urgency to reduce SLCP and combat air pollution, the CCAC has been actively engaged and instrumental in supporting Liberia in developing an integrated air pollution and climate change emission inventory, which is essential for informed policymaking. 

Stakeholders have received training on the LEAP-IBC, which helps the governments assess sectors and actions with the most mitigation potential and significant climate, clean air, and development benefits. The coalition is supporting the development of Liberia's methane roadmap for reducing methane and a waste sector strategy for reducing black carbon from open burning. The coalition board recently approved funding for integrations of  HCFC and HFC consumption and emissions assessments into the 2025 NDC and to develop national sulfur fuel standards for vehicles and enhance the capacity to enforce mandatory vehicle inspection in Heavy-duty vehicles and engines to mitigate the emission of air pollutants from the transport sector. 

To conclude, clean air is not just a public health requirement but also a fundamental human right. It is vital for environmental sustainability as well as population well-being. Therefore, all stakeholders must join forces to promote a healthier environment for all Liberians. Through collaborative efforts led by the government and organizations like the CCAC, combined with the efforts of the private sectors and communities, Liberia can make significant strides toward reducing air pollution and paving the way for a brighter,  healthier, cleaner, and more prosperous future. 

Happy World Clean Air Day! Lets “Invest in #CleanAirNow!