Monrovia, Liberia; September 21, 2026: – The Government of Liberia, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will convene a high-level side event on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly entitled “The Nexus between Climate, Conflict, and Natural Resources: Pathways to Peace, Resilience, and Sustainable Development.
The event will bring together government leaders, United Nations officials, climate experts, development partners, civil society representatives, academia, and private sector stakeholders to explore how climate change, natural resource management, and peacebuilding are increasingly interconnected challenges requiring integrated solutions.
Hosted while Liberia takes the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council beginning December 2026, the dialogue reflects the country's growing leadership on climate security, environmental governance, conflict prevention, and sustainable development.
Climate change is increasingly recognized as a threat multiplier" that exacerbates existing vulnerabilities, including poverty, inequality, resource scarcity, and weak governance systems.
Across Africa and other climate-vulnerable regions, environmental pressures are intensifying competition for land, water, forests, fisheries, and other natural resources, increasing risks to social cohesion and stability.
Liberia’s experience highlights both the challenges and opportunities at the heart of this global discussion. While the country has made significant progress in peacebuilding and environmental governance, ongoing threats from coastal erosion, illegal mining, deforestation, and wetland encroachment underscore the urgent need for climate-resilient and conflict-sensitive approaches to development.
The side event will feature keynote remarks by Mr. Haoliang Xu, Associate Administrator of UNDP, alongside a distinguished panel of international and African leaders, policymakers, and climate experts who will share perspectives on climate security, natural resource governance, climate finance, resilience building, and community-driven solutions.
Discussions will focus on:
- Climate change as a threat multiplier.
- Natural resources and conflict dynamics.
- Climate-related displacement and mobility.
- Governance, institutions, and peacebuilding.
- Pathways to resilience and sustainable peace.
The event seeks to generate actionable policy recommendations, strengthen international partnerships, mobilize investment and climate finance, and elevate local and community voices in advancing sustainable peace and resilience.
Through this platform, Liberia will showcase its leadership in forest conservation, wetland protection, sustainable natural resource management, and climate policy, while advocating for increased adaptation financing and support for vulnerable countries on the frontlines of climate change.