African climate lead demands action for local communities at Liberia summit

At a strategic gathering of climate negotiators and national focal points, the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) issued a direct call to prioritize local implementation over international diplomacy alone, warning that global agreements mean little if they do not empower everyday citizens.

Delivering the opening address at the Strategic Meeting on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) in Liberia, AGN Chair Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah stressed that the true value of climate governance must be measured by what changes beyond the negotiating room.

Addressing representatives of the Government of Liberia, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, national ACE focal points, and development partners, Dr. Amoah highlighted the persistent distance between high-level policy decisions and ground-level execution.

"We can negotiate the most ambitious climate agreements, mobilise substantial resources and develop sophisticated national policies," Dr. Amoah stated. "But their success will ultimately depend on the people and institutions expected to put them into practice".

He emphasized that national commitments—including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)—must translate into actionable guidance for district planning officers, accessible climate data for farmers deciding when to plant, and meaningful decision-making roles for youth and women.

Framed under Article 6 of the UNFCCC and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, ACE provides an international framework for climate education, training, public awareness, public participation, access to information, and international cooperation.

However, Dr. Amoah pointed out that African institutions face severe financial and technical constraints when attempting to expand these programs.

"We cannot keep raising implementation expectations without addressing the means required to deliver them," Dr. Amoah cautioned.

He insisted that financing, capacity-building, technology, and international cooperation remain central to Africa's unified negotiating position as countries prepare for COP31, following the midterm review of the Glasgow work programme initiated at SB64 in Bonn.

By bringing together both international negotiators and national focal points, the Liberia meeting sought to align diplomatic strategy with practical implementation challenges on the ground. Looking ahead to COP32, which will be hosted in Africa, Dr. Amoah framed climate empowerment as essential for building resilient economies, capable institutions, and informed societies across the continent.

"The real test of climate diplomacy is not only what we succeed in negotiating, but what our countries and communities are subsequently empowered to achieve," Dr. Amoah reflected.

Closing his address, the AGN Chair urged delegates to maintain a clear vision of climate governance that directly serves local communities: "Africa's climate future will not be shaped by negotiations alone. It will also be shaped by the knowledge, capabilities and choices of its people".