This National Policy and response Strategy on climate change sets the basic analysis, mitigation and prevention issues and principles as regards the adverse climate change impact and consequences on the territory of the Republic of Liberia (West African coast). In Liberia, because of low level of adaptive capacity in different sectors, emanated from low level of human and institutional capacity, technology, infrastructure, economy, etc., the impact exerted by climate change is severe. The impacted sectors identified as priority sectors through stakeholders’ consultation and document review are: economic sectors such as forestry and wildlife, agriculture, coastal area, water, fishery, energy, mining, industry, transport and tourism, infrastructure, urbanization; and social sectors including health and settlement. The Policy and Response Strategy has recognized these sectors as priority sectors for adaptation. The policy statements for adaptation to climate change are hereunder in the summary, while their corresponding strategy elements can be referred in section 8.1 in the main body of the policy and strategy document. 

The Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy seeks: to strengthen coordination for the implementation of the national policy between the government and all stakeholders; to create an overarching framework for the integration of climate considerations and to support the implementation of Liberia’s national development strategy as well as other regional and international policies and frameworks; to enhance pro-poor and gender sensitive adaptation while also promoting mitigation at the national and local levels, to the extent possible in a cost-effective manner amidst the challenges and constraints posed by climate change; to provide guidance to the efforts of government in ensuring that the country achieves benefits from clean and renewable energy, energy efficiency and mitigation technologies that enhances the livelihoods of the people and promotes the national economy, while contributing to the global efforts to reduce GHG emissions and global warming; to ensure that development at the national and local levels are environmentally sustainable; to promote awareness on climate change and its impact on the country and to enhance the skill and institutional capacity of relevant stakeholders; and to promote the conservation of the nation’s rich biodiversity and natural resources so that they benefit the present and future generations.