Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) has prioritized climate issues as one of its key deliverables in the financial year 2020 planned activities to put mitigation measures in place.

Presenting the proposed FY2020 budget in the just concluded budget hearing held at Miatta Conference Hall, Youyi Building in Freetown, EPA-SL Assistant Director, Samuel Mohamed Kamara noted that increase in environmental and climate change education and awareness to all districts and chiefdom headquarter towns by end of 2020; gender issues integrated into environmental governance and management and provided support to at least five vulnerable groups to impact of climate change among others will be key activities of the agency with policy objective to enhance climate action through implementation of national climate change policy and Paris Agreement on climate change.

He furthered spoke about the need to enhance partnership with local councils and provide support to youths and local communities for implementation of projects on environmental management.

The Assistant Director underscored the significance of strengthening public and private sector involvement in environmental education and increase compliance and enforcement of the EPA Act 2008 as amended in 2010 and environmental standards and regulations.

Compressing the agency's proposed activities budget for FY2020 within the Le16.6Bn budget ceiling on recurrent expenditure from Ministry of Finance, Samuel Mohamed Kamara noted that the revenue projection for FY2020 by his agency was Le58.7Bn.

He said the mission of EPA is to effectively protect and sustainably manage the environment and the natural resources to ensure a quality environment adequate for human health and well-being for all in Sierra Leone.

He said that the broad mandate of the agency is to advise government on all environmental matters and serve as focal point for all national and international environmental issues, as well as regulate all environmental issues in the country.