By mohamedj.bah@awokonewspaper.sl
Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – In a historic move against climate change, Sierra Leone’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled three powerful weapons in its environmental arsenal Thursday – national documents that could reshape the country’s battle against ecological threats for decades to come.
The Atlantic Hotel in Lumley transformed into a war room of sorts as government officials, diplomats, and environmental warriors gathered to launch:
1️ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) – Sierra Leone’s upgraded climate action blueprint
2️ National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan – A survival guide for endangered ecosystems
3️ National Pollutant Inventory – First-ever national tracking system for environmental toxins
Environment Minister Jiwoh Abdulai delivered a passionate battle cry: “These aren’t compliance documents for international show. This is our rescue plan for fishing communities watching their catch disappear, for farmers battling unpredictable rains, for children breathing toxic air in Freetown.”
The minister revealed shocking connections – how poisoned rivers are causing fish species to vanish, and how deforestation is making floods deadlier. “Our new action plans will turn this tide,” he vowed.
EPA Executive Chairman Abu Bakarr Massaquoi held up the documents like sacred texts: “Consider these our environmental passports – without them, we’re locked out of climate financing and global solutions. With them, we reclaim our future.”
The data paints an urgent picture:
• Sierra Leone has lost 30% of its forest cover since 2000
• Coastal erosion devours 3 meters of land yearly in some areas
• 75% of pollutants go unmonitored
German Embassy’s Johannes Behrens issued a stark warning: “Climate inaction could cost Sierra Leone 10% of its GDP by 2050. But get this right, and you’ll unlock green economic revolutions.”
UNDP’s Fredrick Ampiah reframed the documents as “investment portfolios” for sustainable development, while EU and FAO representatives pledged technical support to turn plans into action.
The launch culminated with technical deep-dives into implementation strategies, including:
• Community-based reforestation programs
• Strict new industrial pollution controls
• Climate-smart agriculture incentives
As attendees left, the message was clear: Sierra Leone isn’t just participating in the global climate fight – it’s stepping up as a leader. The real work begins now. MJB/4/4/2025
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