What Rwanda will be taking to Dubai and gain from global climate meeting

Climate change has been a global issue since I can’t remember. The United Nations describes it as “long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions.”

The UN study says that since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide.

Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases.

But we need all of these to live and survive on this earth. The problem is, we are overusing these natural resources and are about to cause the destruction of the earth we live in, by our actions.

Countries, policymakers struggle to find solution to this unfathomable threat the world is facing, without causing more troubles.

Thus, from 30 November to December 12, in Dubai, delegates from nearly 200 countries, leaders of business and finance, and representatives of civil society will gather for the COP28 Climate Conference for the aim of fast-tracking the transition to a clean-energy future to seek for a solution of that unfathomable problem.

As it’s a global issue, countries all over the world have to work together for a long-lasting solution. Africa included.

New research by Oxfam and the Stockholm Environment Institute examining carbon emissions global income groups shows the largeness of the issue.

It shows that Africa’s emissions were less than 4 % despite the continent being home to 17% of the world’s populations.

Rwanda, “the heart of Africa”, will attend too as Rwanda’s delegation will present the country’s ambitious climate action plan; highlight why Rwanda is an ideal location for ecological investment; and introduce new initiatives to scale up green growth as stated Dr Jeanne D’Arc Mujawamariya, Ministry of Environment.

Rwanda also is going to showcase what it has achieved in terms of electric vehicle adoption, among other solutions, according to the Ministry of Environment.

Dr Mujawamariya said that COP28 is another space to express and to network with other partners and friends of Rwanda.

“Climate change is a big global problem, and Rwanda is just one country in the international community. COP28 is very important for Rwanda because it offers opportunities to join other global climate action efforts, to network, to build and strengthen partnerships with other stakeholders who are really eager to fight for climate change, to attract green investment, to support the country’s climate action initiatives, to sell our best practices, our homegrown solutions.”

“What we want at COP28 are solutions to climate change. Our priority is to showcase the solutions we have committed to scale up for green growth. For instance, we exempted electric vehicles from taxes to encourage their adoption” Mujawamariya said.

Mujawamariya also said that the country is eyeing the carbon market.

“We will be showcasing our key green investments. We will be showcasing Rwanda’s green taxonomy. We will be showcasing Nyandungu Eco Park, which is really a flower to the City of Kigali. And the Green City Kigali project, the e-mobility, e-waste investments, as well as the conservation and reforestation initiatives… We have so many projects for the carbon market” she added

“We will, by the end of this year, inaugurate the completed Rusumo hydropower project with 80 MW that will be shared by three countries; namely Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi. There is also Nyabarongo 2 power plant which will be the largest hydropower plant under construction inside the country.” She highlighted.

Understanding the role of working together in climate breakdown is essential if we are to successfully stabilize our planet and guarantee a good life for all humanity.

Bloomberg Green news predict the key themes at COP28 to be the Global stocktake, climate finance, oil and gas companies, and renewable energy.

The stocktake where Governments around the world will show up and show the progress they’ve made in terms of getting closer to net zero by 2050;

Climate finance on “How can we get more money from the richer part of the world to invest in green technology;

Oil & Gas companies as this year’s COP is in Dubai, as an oil and gas superpower, hopefully they’re making a big push to get oil and gas companies to commit more to cutting their methane emissions.

Renewable energy is going to be getting countries to commit to tripling their investments in renewables by 2030.