The mitigation of the effects of climate change is everyone’s concern.

John Gakumba, the Nile Basin Discourse Forum (NBDF) coordinator, made the remarks on Thursday during the first community based-climate change adaptation (CBCCA) conference held in Kigali under the theme ‘Enhancing effective community based adaptation to climate change’.

The conference, which brought together Eastern Province residents and various climate change stakeholders, such as Rwanda Environment Conservation Organisation, development partners, academicians and government institutions, aimed to exchange ideas and share experiences in various aspects of climate change.

"Despite growing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some impacts such as higher temperatures, more intense rain, and droughts are now inevitable. We must plan and adapt to these changes. This challenges decision-making at all levels, from individuals to Government, as well as in business and industry. We want all climate resilience stakeholders to sensitise people on climate change, especially farmers.”Gakumba said.

"Climate change can cause disasters such as floods and droughts that are harmful to our lives. In the agriculture sector, there are some crops that have since disappeared due to climate change like certain types of sorghum.

Climate change effects like the delay of rain, affects agriculture sector. Every one’s effort is needed to fight against such challenges. Eastern Province is the region with insufficient rain compared to other parts of the country”, said Adidas Musoni, Division Manager of Data Observation, Quality Control and Processing Division at Rwanda Meteorology Agency.

Alex Mbonigaba, a resident of Nyagatare District, committed to plant and protect trees around his residence and to avoid any activity that could cause climate change.

"Management of the environment like planting trees is our responsibility. We have initiated new methods of cooking without polluting the air we breathe. We have modern ways of collecting water from our houses,’’ he said.

Thaddee Bucyayungura, a resident from Bugesera District, said that the public should be sensitised about the activities that affect the climate so that they can avoid them.

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