Inger Andersen, UNEP’s executive director, said on Friday at a briefing that UNEA-7 will take place against a backdrop of a fragile geopolitical landscape, necessitating global solidarity to tackle pressing ecological challenges such as climate change.
“UNEA-7 will focus on how we can strengthen multilateralism to deliver united, inclusive action across every strand of the triple planetary crisis, treating it as the single, interconnected challenge it is,” Andersen said.
More than 3,000 delegates, including 55 environment ministers from across the globe, are expected to participate in UNEA-7 that will run under the theme of “Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet,” Andersen said.
She added that the five-day forum will discuss 19 draft resolutions and decisions covering artificial intelligence, minerals and metals, tackling wildfires, and hydrological cycles.
While acknowledging that ecological challenges, including pollution, planetary warming, and habitat loss, have intensified, Andersen stressed that UNEA-7 offers a chance to reset global environmental governance and deliver lasting solutions.
Radhika Ochalik, UNEP’s director of governance affairs, said that delegations will share successful case studies on the implementation of international environmental treaties that advance the green agenda.
Besides side events covering a wide range of topics, UNEA-7 will also feature exhibitions, high-level panel discussions, while negotiations on draft resolutions will be conducted throughout the forum, according to Ochalik.
She revealed that draft resolutions have been organised around four clusters: nature and climate; governance and law; chemicals, waste, and pollution; and strategic and procedural matters, such as the approval of UNEP’s medium-term strategy for 2026-2029.
Deborah Barasa, cabinet secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, said that Kenya will leverage its role as host of UNEA-7 to champion an ambitious and inclusive green agenda that benefits communities and the planet.
Held biennially since 2014, UNEA is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment, enjoying universal membership of all 193 UN member states, alongside major groups like civil society, the private sector, and academia.
This reduction was observed over the eight-day event held in Rwanda. To monitor air quality during the championship, REMA set up 10 stations across different parts of Kigali to monitor air pollution levels, particularly focusing on both closed and open roads.
These stations were located in areas such as Gacuriro, Rusororo, Mont Kigali, Gikondo, Nyarutarama, Kibagabaga, Kimironko, Nyabugogo, and Kimihurura.
REMA’s analysis revealed that temporarily closing major roads improved air quality significantly.
The [report->https://www.rema.gov.rw/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=145048&token=e3cf8ea673c17d0db4d1fb735c157438d8fcc388] shows that Particulate Matter (PM2.5) levels— fine particles in the air, measured in micrograms per cubic meter were measured.
Because they are so small, when inhaled, they quickly enter the lungs and even the bloodstream, causing various health problems such as coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, lung diseases, heart problems, stroke, and even cancer.
The primary sources of these pollutants include vehicle emissions, especially those using gasoline and diesel, burning coal, industrial smoke, and other pollutants. These fine particles have been linked to numerous short and long-term health problems, including the potential harm to unborn children.
Meanwhile, alternative routes used during the event had less traffic and were not regularly used, leading to a reduction in air pollution by 30% – 35%. On the roads that were not affected by the race, no significant change in pollution levels was observed.
Juliet Kabera, the Director General of REMA, emphasized that the findings show that reducing pollution has a direct impact on improving the air quality that people breathe.
The WHO recommends that the annual average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) should not exceed 10 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and for a 24-hour period, it should not exceed 25 micrograms per cubic meter.
“These findings are a clear demonstration of how reduced traffic emissions directly improve the air we breathe,” said Juliet Kabera, Director General of REMA.
“During the UCI Championships, the air quality in Kigali was moderate, which is acceptable for the general public according to WHO [World Health Organization] air quality guidelines. This should inspire all of us to properly maintain our vehicles, and to embrace more sustainable transport choices such as using public transport, cycling, walking, and avoiding unnecessary car trips whenever possible. Cleaner air is within our reach if we make conscious decisions in our daily lives,” she added.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Environment, through REMA, introduced enhanced vehicle emissions testing, underscoring Rwanda’s commitment to cleaner air, improved public health, and sustainable development.
REMA notes that the positive results during the championships underscore the importance of sustainable urban mobility.
In addition to the air quality monitoring stations located in Kigali, REMA operates stations across Rwanda, and citizens are encouraged to follow real-time updates on [aq.rema.gov.rw->https://aq.rema.gov.rw/] to stay informed about the air they breathe and make healthier choices.
The low level of ozone depletion observed in 2024 was partly due to naturally occurring atmospheric factors which drive year-to-year fluctuations. However, the long-term positive trend reflects the success of concerted international action, reported the Ozone Bulletin of the World Meteorological Organization.
The report, offering encouraging scientific news for both human and planetary health, was issued to mark World Ozone Day on Tuesday and the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention, which recognized stratospheric ozone depletion as a global problem and provided the framework for mobilizing international cooperation in ozone research, systematic observations and scientific assessments.
“Forty years ago, nations came together to take the first step in protecting the ozone layer — guided by science, united in action,” said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“The Vienna Convention and its Montreal Protocol became a landmark of multilateral success. Today, the ozone layer is healing. This achievement reminds us that when nations heed the warnings of science, progress is possible,” he said.
According to the report’s investigation, to date, the Montreal Protocol has led to the phase-out of over 99 percent of the production and consumption of controlled ozone-depleting substances, which were used in refrigeration, air conditioning, firefighting foam and even hairspray.
As a result, the ozone layer is now on track to recover to 1980s levels by the middle of this century, significantly reducing risks of skin cancer, cataracts, and ecosystem damage due to excessive UV exposure.
Among just sixteen global winners, Nyandungu Eco-Park received a Full Star accreditation alongside category Stars for “People” and “Biodiversity,” highlighting its excellence in community engagement and ecological conservation.
The award, presented by Wetland Link International (WLI), is the only global quality mark dedicated to wetland educators and visitor attractions, recognising sites that promote conservation and public awareness of wetlands such as rivers, marshes, and coasts.
Located in Kigali, a Ramsar-accredited Wetland City, Nyandungu Eco-Park has rapidly become a flagship urban nature sanctuary. Since opening to the public in July 2022, following six years of extensive restoration, the park has seen a steady rise in visitors, welcoming 76,754 people in 2024, up from 67,222 in 2023 and 48,813 in 2022.
Spanning 121 hectares, including 70 hectares of rehabilitated wetlands and 50 hectares of forest, the park is home to nearly 200 bird species and more than 62 indigenous plant species.
The transformation from a degraded wetland to a thriving ecosystem was made possible by a Frw 4.5 billion investment led by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), with funding from the Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA), the UK Government, Italy’s Ministry for Ecological Transition, and the UN Environment Programme.
Nyandungu offers visitors a unique combination of recreation and education with features such as a medicinal garden, the Pope’s Garden, five catchment ponds, three recreational ponds, 10 kilometres of walkways and cycling lanes, an information centre, and a restaurant.
In its seventh edition, the UNEP’s Frontiers Report said that rising global temperatures present an existential threat to the survival of older adults.
According to the report, climate change is likely to escalate the melting of icecaps, resulting in widespread release of disease-causing pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
The 2025 edition also highlighted the reemergence of banned chemicals and persistent organic pollutants in the environment and food chain due to flooding.
In addition, the report sounded an alarm over the risk of ageing dams to downstream fishing communities and pristine landscapes, adding that the removal of obsolete and unsafe water reservoirs has intensified in Europe and North America.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said the Frontiers Report endeavors to delve into and spotlight emerging planetary threats, and propose some policy interventions required to turn the tide.
“All these emerging issues require careful attention and proactive action. I call on policymakers to read this issue of the biennial Frontiers Report and take forward its findings to protect people, nature and economies from threats that will only grow with each passing year,” Andersen added.
In a candid interview on Sanny Ntayombya’s The Long Form podcast, Sebunya, who grew up under Idi Amin’s regime in Uganda, shared his journey from a politically turbulent childhood to leading one of Africa’s most influential conservation organisations.
He outlined a vision for the continent’s future, one where conservation is not merely about protecting wildlife, but a driver of economic prosperity for African people.
Born in 1965, Sebunya’s early life was shaped by Uganda’s political upheaval. His father, Sewankambo, a member of parliament and Pan-Africanist, was hunted by Amin’s regime, forcing the family to disperse.
“I didn’t grow up with all my siblings,” Sebunya recalled, describing how this experience promoted resilience and a broader African identity.
“I never saw myself as a typical Ugandan, nor tribal.”
His path to conservation was serendipitous, sparked by a chance encounter with Margaret Thatcher’s environmental debates in Strasbourg while studying French. This led to a master’s in environmental policy in the UK, despite his initial training in political science and sociology at Makerere University.
Sebunya’s critique of Africa’s conservation history is unflinching. He argues that the continent’s 8,000 protected areas, many established as colonial hunting grounds, alienated Africans from their land.
“Overnight, Africans became trespassers, poachers, not people looking for food,” he said, noting that post-independence governments perpetuated these frameworks. This colonial legacy, he contends, fuels perceptions of conservation as neo-colonialism, a sentiment echoed in a 2017 Guardian article where he described the sector’s non-African dominance as resembling colonialism.
Less than 5% of conservation NGOs in Africa are led by Africans, a statistic Sebunya finds “uncomforting” but is working to change.
At the heart of AWF’s approach is integrating conservation with community prosperity. In Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, AWF donated 27.8 hectares to expand gorilla habitat while establishing the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, owned by the SACOLA cooperative.
Generating up to $500,000 annually, the lodge has funded community projects like housing for elderly widows and scholarships, directly linking gorilla survival to local wealth.
“No gorilla has been poached because they don’t need to harm them—that’s where the money comes from,” Sebunya explained.
AWF’s innovative bamboo cultivation initiative further exemplifies this, encouraging communities to grow high-value crops that attract gorillas, effectively expanding the park while boosting incomes by up to 700%.
Sebunya rejects the costly colonial model of militarised park management, which he estimates costs $3,000 per square kilometre and is unsustainable for African governments.
“A park like Serengeti is almost the size of Rwanda. How do you fence it?” he asked, highlighting the model’s failure, with 30,000 elephants lost annually and rhinos extinct in many countries.
Instead, AWF promotes a symbiotic relationship between wildlife and communities, arguing that animals like mountain gorillas would say, “Create a better relationship with my neighbors,” not “Bring a gun to protect me.”
Looking to the future, Sebunya sees Africa’s youth, 70% of the continent’s population, as key to transforming conservation.
“In five or 10 years, these young people will demand to run parks for economic aspirations,” he predicted, envisioning decentralised management where communities like those near Rwanda’s Volcanoes oversee their assets.
He cites rising human-wildlife conflict, as seen in Kenya and Botswana, as a challenge requiring private-sector solutions like insurable conflict mitigation. In Botswana, home to over 200,000 elephants, culling controversies spark protests in London and New York, not locally, where elephants threaten livelihoods.
“Until Africans value an elephant as much as a chicken, which pays school fees, we can’t protect them without benefits,” he said.
Sustainable financing is another priority. Sebunya criticises Africa’s reliance on foreign aid, noting that USAID funds 65% of Nigeria’s health sector, a dependency he calls unsustainable.
AWF’s partnership with the African Union, including the 2022 Africa Protected Areas Congress in Kigali, marked the first time African governments discussed conservation’s importance since independence. Proposals like the Pan-African Conservation Trust aim to secure African-sourced funding, reducing dependence on global donors amid rising defence spending.
“Africa cannot outsource its core platform for economic development—conservation,” Sebunya asserted.
Sebunya’s optimism hinges on aligning conservation with development. He warns that without an African model, large mammals face extinction within a century due to land pressure and climate change.
“We’re doing the same things Europe did, and it has no wildlife,” he cautioned, citing Lake Chad’s shrinking size as a driver of regional instability.
Yet, he believes Africa’s globally connected, educated youth will value natural assets like Victoria Falls or giraffes, which currently generate less revenue than artificial attractions in Dubai.
“This is their war—climate change,” he said, comparing it to his father’s fight for independence.
As AWF prepares for a private-sector-led future, Sebunya sees conservation as a global responsibility with African stewardship.
“If we cut down the Congo Basin, Europe will flood,” he warned, urging international support without ownership.
The global average surface air temperature in June was 16.46 degrees Celsius, 0.47 degrees above the 1991-2020 average for the month and 1.3 degrees higher than the 1850-1900 pre-industrial level, C3S said in its monthly bulletin.
Europe’s average temperature for the month was 18.46 degrees, making it the fifth-warmest June on record. Western Europe, however, experienced its warmest June ever, with temperatures averaging 20.49 degrees.
“June 2025 saw an exceptional heatwave impact large parts of Western Europe, with much of the region experiencing very strong heat stress,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
She warned that heatwaves are likely to become “more frequent, more intense and impact more people across Europe” in a warming world.
Beyond Europe, above-average temperatures for June were observed across the United States, northern Canada, central and eastern Asia and West Antarctica.
June’s global average sea surface temperature (SST) over latitudes from 60 degrees north to 60 degrees south was 20.72 degrees, the third-highest for the month.
An “exceptional” marine heatwave developed in the western Mediterranean, where daily SSTs peaked at 27 degrees, the highest ever recorded in the region for June, marking the largest daily SST anomaly globally for any month, C3S noted.
“The long-term trend of rising ocean temperatures is evident globally,” said Julien Nicolas, senior scientist at C3S. He noted that higher SST poses a rising threat to marine ecosystems and biodiversity as oceans absorb around 90 percent of the excess heat caused by human-induced climate change.
Nicolas urged faster action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to improve climate resilience.
“Reducing emissions and adapting our cities and communities to a world with more extreme weather is critical,” he said.
To the casual observer, it’s a scene of calm and beauty—one of Rwanda’s most picturesque natural wonders and a source of food, transport, and livelihood for thousands. Beneath the lake’s surface, however, lies a silent, invisible threat that scientists say could turn this tranquil body of water into a zone of catastrophic destruction.
Lake Kivu, shared by Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, holds enormous volumes of methane and carbon dioxide gases trapped deep within its waters. These gases, accumulated over centuries, sit under pressure in the lake’s depths, forming a geological time bomb that, if triggered, could release a toxic cloud capable of suffocating entire towns.
Over two million people live in the lake’s basin, including the cities of Goma and Rubavu, making the stakes unimaginably high. And unlike the 1986 Lake Nyos disaster in Cameroon—which killed 1,700 people in a remote rural area—an eruption at Lake Kivu could hit densely populated urban centres, potentially displacing or killing millions.
Add to this the lake’s position in an active volcanic zone—with Mount Nyiragongo looming nearby—and the risks become even more urgent. The 2021 eruption of Nyiragongo, which caused deadly tremors and cracked buildings in Goma, was a stark reminder of how close this threat remains.
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Rwanda, fully aware of the potential danger, has not waited for disaster to strike. Instead, the government has taken a bold and forward-looking approach to address the threat, transforming Lake Kivu’s peril into a source of clean, sustainable energy.
Central to this strategy is the extraction of methane gas from the lake’s depths. In 2008, Rwanda piloted the first project, Kibuye Power Plant 1. Building on that experience, the government partnered with international investors to launch KivuWatt, a large-scale methane-to-power facility operated by U.S.-based ContourGlobal, which began producing electricity in 2015.
More recently, the Shema Power Lake Kivu (SPLK) project was inaugurated in 2024. With an installed capacity of 56 megawatts, it stands as one of Rwanda’s most ambitious energy projects, contributing significantly to the national grid.
The process involves pumping methane-rich water from deep beneath the lake, separating the gas, and reinjecting the remaining water—minus the methane—back into the lake at a controlled depth. Reinjection is carefully managed to ensure that it does not destabilise the lake’s natural layering, known as stratification, which is essential for containing the gases.
To ensure this delicate operation is done safely, the Rwandan government established the Lake Kivu Monitoring Programme (LKMP)—now operating under the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA). The programme constantly monitors gas concentrations, temperature gradients, and any seismic activity that could disturb the lake’s stability.
In addition to monitoring, Rwanda has worked with international scientists to develop a set of Management Prescriptions—technical guidelines that define safe extraction methods, reinjection levels, and environmental limits. These prescriptions are binding on all operators and are designed to balance energy production with ecological safety.
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Recognising that Lake Kivu is a shared resource, Rwanda and the DRC signed a Validation Act in 2020, committing both nations to adhere to common safety standards and collaborative oversight. The act was facilitated with support from international experts and donors, reflecting the global concern around the lake’s potential hazards.
This cross-border coordination ensures that activities on either side of the lake, whether extraction or infrastructure, do not compromise the overall stability of the ecosystem.
While the risks remain, Rwanda’s proactive approach has positioned it as a model of responsible natural resource management. The country is not only preventing disaster but also harnessing the lake’s energy to drive socio-economic transformation.
Nestled between the flowing waters of the Min River and the rolling fields of the Chengdu Plain stands the Dujiangyan Irrigation System—a testament to human ingenuity and harmony with nature.
The Dujiangyan Irrigation System is one of the most extraordinary engineering achievements in human history, a masterpiece of ancient design that still serves millions today.
Built over 2,300 years ago, during the Warring States period in what is now Sichuan Province, this system was designed not to block the river with a dam, but to work with nature—taming the unruly Min River while providing life-giving irrigation to the fertile Chengdu Plain.
Its story begins at a time when floods and droughts brought suffering to the people of Sichuan. The Qin Dynasty, seeking to strengthen its hold on the region, appointed a governor named Li Bing to solve the problem.
Li Bing studied the river’s behavior and devised a system that would forever change the fate of Sichuan. Instead of fighting the river, he redirected it.
The heart of his design was the Fish Mouth Levee—a carefully shaped divider that splits the Min River into two channels, one for irrigation and the other for flood control.
This simple yet brilliant structure ensured that water would flow steadily to farmlands while excess floodwaters were safely carried away. To manage the buildup of silt, he built the Flying Sand Weir—a spillway that uses the river’s own swirling currents to flush out sediment, keeping the system clear.
Finally, the Bottleneck Channel acted as a precise regulator, controlling how much water entered the irrigation network.
What makes Dujiangyan truly remarkable is that it has never stopped working. For centuries, it has turned Sichuan into one of China’s most productive agricultural regions, earning it the nickname “Land of Abundance.”
Even today, the system irrigates over 5,300 square kilometers of farmland, supporting crops that feed millions. Unlike modern dams, which often disrupt ecosystems, Dujiangyan operates in harmony with nature, requiring no artificial barriers or destructive interventions.
It has survived wars, dynasties, and even the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake, which caused only minor damage.
Beyond its practical benefits, Dujiangyan stands as a symbol of human innovation and sustainability. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, it attracts visitors from around the world who come to marvel at its ancient yet timeless design.
Walking along its pathways, one can see the same structures that Li Bing built over two millennia ago, still performing their duty just as effectively as they did in the days of the Qin Dynasty.
As the world today grapples with climate change and environmental challenges, Dujiangyan remains a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when ingenuity and respect for nature come together.
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Every spring during Qingming Festival (around April 4–6), the city of Dujiangyan comes alive with one of China’s oldest and most symbolic cultural events: The Water-Releasing Festival. With a history of over 1,000 years, this grand ceremony honors both the annual maintenance of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and the legacy of its visionary creator, Li Bing.
The celebration is not only a tribute to ancient engineering but also a spiritual rite marking the beginning of spring ploughing—a time of renewal and agricultural hope.
Declared a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006, the festival culminates in a dramatic Water-Releasing Ceremony. Dressed in traditional Han attire, local officials, invitees, and participants reenact age-old rituals, including the symbolic cutting of rope-bound cofferdams made of wood, bamboo, and stone to release the river’s flow back into the irrigation channels.
Offerings are made to the gods and to Li Bing himself, while spectators throw symbolic items into the water to pray for good harvests and well-being.
The two entities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at providing financial solutions that will enhance access to electric mobility while promoting climate-smart technologies.
The partnership aligns with Rwanda’s broader sustainability agenda, which prioritizes clean energy and environmental conservation. By supporting businesses and individuals in adopting electric mobility, the collaboration is expected to drive financial inclusion while significantly reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector.
Hannington Namara, CEO of Equity Bank Rwanda, emphasized that the bank is committed to fostering financial solutions that encourage sustainable development.
“We found SPIRO relevant to partner with because we do a lot of work with the community that we serve on this journey of sustainability, where adopting green technologies becomes very important. They are the suppliers of these products, and we’re interested in financing those products so that we can serve our end users, who are the communities,” he said.
Namara highlighted the key benefits of the partnership, which include green investment financing, financial inclusion for marginalized groups, climate risk insurance, and technical training programs. He also noted that customers will gain access to top-tier, effective electric mobility technologies that help reduce operational costs.
“The two of us tick the box of sustainability, going green, and protecting the environment. By deploying climate-smart technologies, we aim to provide our customers with state-of-the-art solutions in their mobility work,” he added.
“E-mobility saves at least $1 per kilometer. We believe in technology that allows them to do this cost-effectively, helping them save money while contributing to Rwanda’s sustainability journey. This aligns with our mission and vision.”
Namara further explained that SPIRO’s technology platform collects geographical data, allowing for insights into community needs and the impact of innovative solutions. This data-driven approach will help refine e-mobility services and optimize their benefits for end users.
Kaushik Burman, CEO of SPIRO, underscored the importance of strong partnerships in achieving sustainable mobility goals. “E-mobility transformation requires strong partnerships. We are excited to work with Equity Bank to scale electric mobility in Rwanda,” he stated.
“The government has been very progressive in terms of making policies that favor electric mobility adoption. This transformation journey cannot be done by one entity alone, it requires a coalition of partners, each bringing a unique strength to achieve the goal of deploying more e-bikes,” he added.
Burman also noted that SPIRO is making significant investments in Rwanda to enhance its e-mobility infrastructure.
“Spiro will continue investing heavily in Rwanda by bringing manufacturing capabilities for electric motorbike batteries, training staff, upskilling people, and creating the infrastructure, including automated swapping stations across the country,” he noted.
Since its launch in 2023, SPIRO has deployed approximately 2,000 electric vehicles and e-bikes in Rwanda. The company continues to raise awareness about the benefits of electric mobility and its role in reducing carbon footprints.
This partnership between Equity Bank and SPIRO is a major step toward making e-mobility more accessible and financially viable. By integrating financial solutions with sustainable transportation, the initiative will play a crucial role in Rwanda’s transition to a greener and more resilient economy.
