The Environment and natural resources sector has yesterday met with development partners in a high level breakfast meeting to discuss on continued collaboration for further mainstreaming of environment, climate change issues and natural resources management in development programmes. 

The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Environment through Rwanda Environment Authority (REMA) in partnership with Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) and the United Nations Agency for Development (UNDP) with the support of Poverty and environment Action for Sustainable Development Project (PEA) implemented by REMA.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment Dr. MUJAWAMARIYA Jeanne d’Arc thanked all development partners for their support which contributed to Rwanda’s impressive results over the last two decades in regards to environment protection and natural resources management.

“We have seen impressive results thanks to the work we have done together. For example, we banned single-use plastics to promote alternative packaging solutions, achieved 30% forest coverage, rehabilitated thousands of hectares of degraded lands and catchments, launched e-mobility solutions for cars and motorbikes and introduced new policies for environment and climate change, forestry as well as land. We also adopted one of the world’s first national cooling strategies which will help us achieve our climate action targets and the Kigali Amendment” the minister said.

“I wish to express my thanks and give recognition to everyone who worked tirelessly over many years to achieve these and other goals” the minister added.

The UNDP Resident Representative and co-chair of the Environment and Natural resources sector Stephen Rodriques pledged the continued support of development partners to the environment and natural resources sector towards achieving its mission. He added that UNDP, being a co-chair of the sector, will continue playing its role to provide technical and financial support to implement the sector strategic plans.

While presenting on the mainstreaming journey of environment, climate change and natural resources, the Director General of REMA Eng. Coletha U. RUHAMYA said that the mainstreaming journey has been so participative and inclusive and has also led to impressive results and increased consideration of environment protection both at central and decentralized levels.

The meeting was also attended by other government institutions also working in environment protection, and natural resources management including Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority (RWFA), Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA), Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority (RLMUA) and Rwanda Meteorology Agency.