The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency team (U4E), has conducted a training workshop on the Rwanda Cooling Initiative: Enabling Deployment of Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling. Convened under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project, the workshop aimed to strengthen national capacity on sustainable cooling and cold-chain systems.

The workshop brought together 40 participants from government institutions, academia, and the private sector, including cold-chain operators, entrepreneurs, and equipment suppliers. Its objective was to build technical knowledge and skills to support Rwanda’s transition to energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling solutions.

The training represents a milestone in Rwanda’s efforts to introduce Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and labelling for air conditioners and refrigerators, alongside strategies to raise consumer awareness and attract investments. These measures aim to cut emissions, reduce energy costs, and ensure reliable cold storage to improve food security, public health, and economic resilience.

In her opening remarks, Beatha Akimpaye, Division Manager of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement at REMA, stressed the importance of prioritising efficient and climate-friendly solutions:

“Cooling is vital, but it must also be efficient and climate-friendly. This workshop is paving the way for a future where Rwanda can benefit from cooling without compromising our environment,” she said.

The technical sessions featured presentations by Dr Edward Hammond from UNEP, who introduced refrigeration technologies and the importance of safe refrigerants, and Jean Paul Ntaganda from REMA, who showcased the role of cooling in agriculture, health, and business, as well as opportunities and challenges for Rwanda.

Dr Hammond also presented Rwanda’s vision for the cold-chain through the SPOKE programme, which is designed to provide comprehensive cooling systems backed by training and viable business models.

Participants engaged actively during plenary discussions, raising questions, sharing experiences, and identifying solutions to ensure that Rwanda’s cold-chain is not only environmentally sustainable but also both economically viable and practical to local conditions.

Closing the workshop, Aline Uwasempabuka, REMA Alternate Focal Point to the GCF, thanked participants and partners for their contributions.

The training workshop concluded with a call for greater cooperation across institutions, businesses, and communities to deploy sustainable cooling solutions that support Rwanda’s green growth and climate goals.