Monrovia, Liberia, July 4, 2026 – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo has called on graduates of the Institute of Climate Change and Health Research (ICCHR) to become leaders in addressing Liberia’s growing environmental and climate challenges.
Speaking through his Administrative Assistant and Chief of Office Staff, Timothy R. Yoko, during the Institute’s first commencement ceremony on Saturday, July 4, Dr. Yarkpawolo congratulated the graduates and described the occasion as a major milestone for the institution and Liberia’s environmental sector.
Addressing the graduates, Dr. Yarkpawolo said climate change is no longer a distant threat but a reality already affecting communities across Liberia through coastal erosion, flooding, changing rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, declining agricultural productivity, and increasing health risks.
He warned that environmental degradation continues to threaten people’s livelihoods and well-being, citing poor waste management, unsafe water sources, deforestation, pollution, and the destruction of ecosystems as major concerns.
“The Environmental Protection Agency firmly believes that protecting the environment is fundamentally about protecting people,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said in the statement. “Healthy ecosystems sustain healthy communities.”
He emphasized that environmental sustainability is not only necessary for protecting nature but is also essential for public health, food security, economic growth, and the well-being of future generations.
The EPA Executive Director reaffirmed the Liberian Government’s commitment to strengthening climate resilience through sound environmental governance, biodiversity conservation, pollution prevention, sustainable land management, and climate adaptation.
However, he stressed that government alone cannot address the country’s environmental challenges, calling for stronger partnerships among academic institutions, research organizations, civil society, development partners, and the private sector.
Dr. Yarkpawolo commended the Institute of Climate Change and Health Research for contributing to national development through research, innovation, and professional training, describing scientific research as a vital tool for developing evidence-based policies and sustainable solutions.
He encouraged the graduates to remain lifelong learners, embrace innovation, uphold professionalism, and use their education to serve their communities and the nation.
According to him, their certificates should represent not only academic achievement but also a commitment to environmental stewardship, public service, and national development.
“As environmental professionals, researchers and future leaders, you have a responsibility to contribute to national development by promoting environmental stewardship, protecting natural resources, advancing public health, and supporting sustainable development,” the statement said.
Dr. Yarkpawolo also reaffirmed the EPA’s commitment to working closely with institutions such as ICCHR to strengthen research, build national capacity, and develop innovative solutions to Liberia’s environmental and climate challenges.
