Kigali, 05^th October,2022 – Development Partners, Public and Private institutions met for the Environment and Climate Change Thematic Working Group biennial meeting organized by Rwanda Environment Management Authority(REMA). The meeting was chaired by the Director General of REMA, Juliet Kabera and Co-Chaired by World Bank Rwanda, John Kalisa.

The meeting aimed at assessing the:

• Progress of the Environment and Climate Change for the FY 2021 / 2022 targets.
• Budget execution performance for FY2021/2022.
• Priority areas for the next FY 2023/2024.
• Summary of implementation of Auditor General (OAG) Office recommendations for the FY 2021/2022.
• Status of SDGs indicators, and discuss plans to monitor additional SDGs indicators relevant to Rwanda and with clear computation methodology but not currently monitored.
• Status on the implementation of the Covid-19 Socio-Economic Recovery Plan

This meeting highlighted many achievements as regards to environmental conservation and building climate resilience, and discussed how the outcome has improved Rwanda’s environmental sustainability. The achievements include, among others:

• REMA has surpassed the hectares targets for agroforestry, afforestation, and Ecosystem Based Adaptation interventions and has distributed the fruit seedlings to the 33,300 households in the fiscal year 2021/2022
• The inspections to stop degradation activities or relocate from wetlands, riverbanks and lakeshores surpassed the targets
• 53 projects to promote green technologies in wastes management and Industrial Processing were inspected surpassing the annual target of 40 inspections planned.
• The feasibility study, baseline studies and preliminary design on selected 5 wetlands in Kigali developed at 50%
• Online system for hazardous and toxics waste upgraded to better manage and monitor toxic and hazardous waste
• 10 new Air Quality Monitors mobile sensors installed and 18 existing stations were well maintained and air pollution hot spot areas identified
• 21,000 Improved cook stoves distributed and 6 full kits of LPGs were installed in schools
• Launched and operationalized the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain
• The 6^th  State of environment and outlook report published and disseminated
• Launched and dissemination of REMA strategic Plan for 2022-2026.

Speaking at the meeting, the Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Juliet Kabera, reiterated that the environment sector is fully committed to driving the country’s green growth and bettering livelihoods of Rwandans through implementing environmental-friendly projects.

“We appreciate efforts of all you to supporting Rwanda’s vision 2050 of having the desire to be carbon-neutral and climate resilient economy with low-carbon emission and ensuring the implementation for Green Growth and Climate Resilient Strategy, and adhering to the plans in the Rwanda Environment Management Authority’s Strategic Plan” Juliet Kabera said.

The co-chair, John Kalisa from the World Bank Rwanda, highlighted on the Rwanda’s Vision 2050 sets out pathways that will lead the country to the living standards of upper middle income by 2035 and high-income status by 2050. He said that the vision 2050 has overarching objectives of promoting economic growth and prosperity and high quality of life for Rwandans.

“Addressing climate challenges, requires Rwanda to balance investment projects (both private and public) with policy reforms that change incentives facing firms and households while creating markets for ecosystem services and hence the private sector has an important role to play in the implementation of the 2020 NDCs - multiple opportunities for private sector engagement and investment, cutting across different sectors of the Rwanda’s economy, exist”. John Kalisa said

Stakeholders commended tremendous progress towards achieving conservation and climate change resilience targets, discussed and reflected on the presentation with constructive views.

The meeting of stakeholders in environment and climate change sector also known as the “Environment and Climate Change Thematic Working Group Meeting” is convened by REMA twice a year (every six months). It is meant to discuss the progress of the country's environment sector targets and pave the way forward for effective implementation of the targets.