Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Sara Beysolow Nyanti, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, delivered a powerful lecture emphasizing Liberia’s renewed commitment to international diplomacy, regional cooperation, and climate diplomacy in alignment with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). Speaking during a high-level visit from the Africa Study Tour of the Ghana Armed Forces Command, Foreign Minister Nyanti officially welcomed the delegation on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and the government and people of Liberia. The theme of the visit, “Climate Change, Environment, and Development,” provided the backdrop for a wide-ranging discussion on the intersection of natural resource governance, regional stability, and inclusive development.

“Climate diplomacy is not something that will happen tomorrow. It is already here – with our falling coastline, our crops drying up, and the birth of our forest being affected,” Foreign Minister Nyanti stated. The Dean of the Cabinet reaffirmed Liberia’s strategic position within ECOWAS and the African Union, noting that regional frameworks are critical for addressing transnational issues such as climate change and economic development. Foreign Minister Nyanti emphasized that the ARREST Agenda—focusing on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism is more than a development plan; it’s a roadmap to empower a resilient and ready-to-lead population. Touching on the historical roots of climate science, she cited 19th-century warnings from Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius and mid-20th-century concerns voiced by American physicist Edward Teller as early alarms about the dangers of carbon emissions.

“The issue of climate change is not new. What’s new is our responsibility to act now with urgency and unity,” she added. Foreign Minister Nyanti underscored Liberia’s rich natural resources as assets that must benefit future generations—not be sources of conflict. “Our children will benefit from our rainforest through improved infrastructure, education, technology, and health—if we manage it sustainably,” she said. She emphasized the importance of climate justice, asking, “How do we ensure climate justice? Those responsible must be held accountable, while those suffering the consequences must be supported.” Liberia, she said, is advancing climate-smart farming, resilient infrastructure, forest protection, and climate education, working in concert with international partners including the United States, Germany, Sweden, Norway and the European Union. “The ARREST Agenda is about turning vision into action a roadmap for the future where no one is left behind, and where the environment is protected,” she said.

The visiting delegation, which included over 25 senior military officers, senior faculty members, a Brigadier General, and government officials from Nigeria, engaged in dialogue around the shared responsibilities of African nations in facing climate change and fostering sustainable development. Brigadier General B.B. Owusu, who led the delegation, acknowledged the importance of Liberia’s leadership and the relevance of the visit’s theme. The visit reaffirmed Liberia’s diplomatic engagement in regional and global climate issues and its commitment to inclusive, sustainable progress through strategic partnerships and forward-looking policy.