Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi yesterday called for more efforts to conserve the environment as Rwanda prepares to observe the World Environment Day on June 3.

Speaking at the launch of the national Environment Week in Musanze District where he joined residents of Gashaki Sector during the monthly community work, Umuganda, Murekezi said there was need for everyone to feel responsible for environmental conservation.

"Climate changes that have been occurring worldwide since 2015 have led to enormous losses in our country where many people were killed and infrastructure damaged due to heavy rains. This calls for more campaigns to raise awareness on climate change and how to prevent its effects,” Murekezi said.

The Environment Week will be celebrated under the theme: "Join the race to increase resilience to climate change” while the global theme is: "The fight against the illegal trade in wildlife”.

It will comprise of activities dedicated to raising awareness on environmental sustainability including  public lectures in institutions of higher learning, a walk advocating for air quality and motor vehicle emissions control.

t will also include a campaign on the use of environmental friendly bags in partnership with all districts and Kigali Veteran Cooperative Society (KVCS Women Project) and the launch of the 4th Edition of the State of Environment Report done under the theme "Greening Agriculture with resource efficient, low carbon and climate resilient practices”.

Coletha Ruhamya, the acting Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), urged people to relate all their activities on environment conservation recalling that conservation of the environment was crucial to people’s wellbeing.

"When the environment is not conserved, lives are also jeopardized hence everyone should be responsible for sustaining our environment which leads to climate change resilience”.

The launch of the National environment week was also used to give cows to 50 families that were relocated from the isles in Ruhondo Lake and settled in Gashaki Green Village in Musanze District.

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