Rwanda hosts regional workshop on mitigation actions to climate change

{Rwanda today hosts the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) regional workshop on Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) to climate change. The 3-day meeting will end on August 19th, 2015 }

The meeting, co-organised by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat in partnership with the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Natural Resources, brings together over 70 climate change experts from across Africa, including country representatives, representatives of international organisations and the private sector.

The workshop aims to strengthen the use of NAMAs as a tool for pre-2020 and post-2020 climate change action. Regional mitigation experts and the private sector will present on designing and implementing NAMAs, support programmes, and participants will share experiences, lessons learned and best practices. Discussions will focus on challenges and issues faced, financial engineering and investment strategies for leveraging multi-source financing, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), sustainable development co-benefits, and the NAMA Registry.

Rwanda was chosen to host the meeting because it has taken a proactive approach in mainstreaming Climate Change in its long term national development strategy, its experience in hosting international events, available facilities and its efforts in environment protection and climate change mitigation.

The Minister for Natural Resources Hon. Vincent Biruta said Rwanda is pleased to host the meeting and noted that it is another opportunity for the country to share with others the experience on the development and implementation of NAMAs.

“The meeting is an opportunity for Rwanda to build network with experienced international organisations, share our experience with other countries and learn from the best practices for further implementation of national mitigation actions for climate change,” Honourable Biruta said. “The meeting is also an opportunity to build capacity for the public and private entities and individuals on the various aspects and benefits of NAMAs”, Dr. Biruta noted