Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has trained different Media practitioners on different laws and policy on environment and climate change. They were trained on April 30, 2021  in view of building Media practitioners’ awareness and knowledge as well as encouraging  them to regularly report on environment and climate change.

The training was preceded by a joint field inspection by REMA and Rwanda National Police to raise their awareness on the need for enforcement of law relating to the prohibition of manufacturing, importation, use and sale of single use plastics and carry bags.

During the training and the joint inspection, media practitioners were briefed on laws and policy on environment and climate change, main environmental crimes; law on single use plastics. They also got opportunity to discuss on cases of single use plastics and carry bags identified during the inspection.

According to the trained media practitioners,  their participation in the joint inspection and the training they got from REMA has triggered their need to report on environment related stories in order to to raise people’s awareness on environment protection.

Opening the training workshop, the Deputy Director General of REMA, Faustin Munyazikwiye   commended Media practitioners’ contribution in disseminating information and their crucial role in creating awareness of the population on various environment-related issues.

“Media practitioners are key stakeholders in raising people’s awareness. It is paramount for them to know and understand environmental laws, ministerial orders and policy in order to convey messages on environment and climate change” said the Deputy Director General of REMA, Faustin Munyazikwiye .

After being briefed, the Deputy Director General of REMA, Faustin Munyazikwiye has clarified risen environmental and climate change issues for their understanding.  

As stipulated in article 6 of the LAW N°48/2018 OF 13/08/2018 on environment,  the principle of information dissemination and incentives for environmental conservation contributes to fostering awareness about the usefulness of environment and its conservation. Every person has the right to be informed of the state of the environment and to take part in strategies and activities aimed at conserving the environment.

END