Rwanda Aims for Carbon Neutrality by 2050: Kigali Climate Talks Stress Climate Finance

On October 4, 2024, Rwanda’s Ministry of Environment and the German Embassy in Kigali organized the second edition of the Kigali Climate Talks, themed “Climate Finance – Powering Adaptation and Resilience.”

The event brought together representatives from government, NGOs, academia, the private sector, civil society, and international partners, focusing on the role of climate finance in advancing Rwanda’s climate goals.

Discussions centered on integrating climate finance into national development, utilizing frameworks like the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, as Rwanda aims for carbon neutrality by 2050. As part of the Paris Agreement, Rwanda commits to limiting temperature rise to 2°C, with efforts to reach 1.5°C.

Minister of Environment Dr. Valentine Uwamariya emphasized the importance of translating global climate negotiations into national action, with an emphasis on inclusivity and moving from dialogue to implementation.

She highlighted the critical role of international finance in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change, despite Rwanda’s progress through the Rwanda Green Fund.

Looking ahead to COP29, Uwamariya stressed the need for a climate finance target that meets the needs of vulnerable nations and influences global financial systems.

“At the upcoming COP29, we have another historic opportunity to set a climate finance target that meets the moment—one that responds to the acute needs of vulnerable nations, sends a strong signal to the global financial sector, and shifts investment decisions in boardrooms and stock exchanges around the world,” she stated.

She also underscored Rwanda’s ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with plans to increase climate action targets in NDC 3.0.

“Nations are also in the process of revising our climate action plans, also known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). In Rwanda’s NDC 3.0, we will raise our ambitions beyond the commitments we set in 2020.” She explained.

Germany’s Ambassador Heike Uta Dettmann praised the structured dialogue of the Kigali Climate Talks, highlighting the importance of climate finance for Rwanda’s progress.

“The strategy seeks to capitalize on Rwanda’s success in accessing climate finance and considers how the country can evolve its approach to climate and natural resource mobilization in its changing internal and external conditions.” She stressed.

EU Ambassador Belén Calvo Uyarra reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to ambitious climate action, both in Europe and globally.

“We remain highly committed to continuing pushing for climate action with a great level of ambition in the European Union and abroad. Team Europe is working alongside Rwanda to advance climate resilience.” She said.

She also emphasized the need to scale up investments in energy, infrastructure, and technology, aligning with the EU’s 90% emission reduction target by 2040.

Rwanda’s NDC targets a 38% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, aiming to mitigate 4.6 million metric tons of CO2e.