The Ministry of Environment, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and partners have hosted friends of the environment to discuss the challenge of air pollution and what can be done to improve the quality of the air we breathe. The gathering took place on 5 June at the Kigali Convention Centre to celebrate World Environment Day.

The event began with a keynote address from Dr Jimmy Gasore, Atmospheric Scientist and Station Chief Scientist at Rwanda Climate Observatory. His presentation covered air quality in Rwanda highlighting its levels, impacts, and sharing proposals on the way forward.

“The Rwanda Air Quality Project funded by the Rwanda Green Fund and supported by the Ministry of Education and REMA is the first integrated effort to achieve continuous and long-term monitoring of air quality at the national scale," he said.

Dr Gasore explained the impacts of air pollution such as lung cancer, respiratory infections, and stroke and presented data on air pollution patterns in rural Rwanda: “Ambient air pollution levels at rural locations are generally good and moderate. We now need to install more monitoring stations to represent the full variability of air quality in Kigali and to set up monitors in secondary cities," he concluded.

A discussion on tackling air pollution followed through a panel with Eng. Coletha Ruhamya, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority, who shared initiatives to raise awareness about air pollution such as educating people on the impact of air pollution and how to beat it, and how REMA works with different institutions including the Rwanda Energy Group, Ministry of Infrastructure and Rwanda National Police.

“We have also carried out competitions through school debates and with SMEs, football clubs and local government. Other initiatives such as car free day are one of the ways we raise awareness and educate people about air pollution,” DG Ruhamya said, highlighting that the government is currently working on e-mobility as a way to reduce transport sector emissions.

Fellow panellist Stephen Rodriques, UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda, shared how air pollution affects the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and called on all participants to take simple steps in their daily lives to beat air pollution and exchange good practices.

Dr Innocent Turate from the Ministry of Health noted the severe effects of air pollution: “Every year, we have more than three million cases of respiratory illness - that’s around a quarter of the total population,” he said, sharing how the Ministry of Health has raised awareness of air pollution and the measures taken to beat it such as prohibiting smoking in public spaces.

During the event, participants also shared how they are contributing to beat air pollution. Inhee Chung from the Global Green Growth Institute explained that the organisation is supporting Rwanda to develop green buildings through sustainable urbanisation as well as improve waste management.

Athanasie Mukeshiyaremye from the Rwanda Standards Board shared how the institution provides standard based solutions to mitigate air pollution and is currently collaborating with REMA to introduce new emission standards for thermal power generation and vehicles. CP Rafiki Mujiji, Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety, Rwanda National Police, also spoke on how the police enforces laws on environment protection and conducts vehicle inspections to ensure they meet the current emissions standards.

At the celebration, Fatina Mukarubibi, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Eng. Ruhamya, and Resident Representative Stephen Rodriques took the opportunity to launch the Third National Communication Report on Climate Change, which details the status of the country’s greenhouse emissions and efforts to address the climate crisis.

Environment champions who are using innovation, technology and inspiring practices to beat air pollution were also recognised by receiving awards. The ideas and projects they are working on include a solar power irrigation project, planting agroforestry trees, mobilising the community to use biogas and improved cooking stoves, providing news coverage, and raising awareness about tree planting. The awards were given in six categories including districts, higher learning institutions, small and medium enterprises, TVET Schools as well as media.

The celebration was closed by Permanent Secretary Mukarubibi who thanked participants and the winners for their contribution and commitment to beating air pollution and encouraged continued collaboration.

"Congratulations to all the winners of the 2019 Environment Awards organised by REMA. We look forward to working with you to scale up our efforts to beat air pollution, I would also like to thank today's panelists who shared powerful messages on protecting our environment by taking personal responsibility to beat air pollution,” she said.

Resources

• Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/98168367@N06/albums/72157708942011817
• Clean Air Champions (2019 Environment Day Awardees):  Download Here
• Rwanda Third National Communication on Climate Change: Download Here
• Presentation by Dr Jimmy Gasore: Download Here