As the third Pan-African meeting starts today in Kigali, there is every reason for other African countries to emulate the steps Rwanda has taken in protecting the environment for the better future of our continent - Africa and mother earth as a whole. Rwanda being chosen to host such an important event shows the recognition by the international community for her tireless efforts in environmental protection at a time when the effects of global warming are posing a great threat to the whole world. As the Finance and Environmental Ministers and other government officials sit to discuss the impact of climate change, a lot more should be debated such as collective efforts towards attaining common goals. Our government has taken remarkable strides but together as united countries, we can achieve much more.
As the third Pan-African meeting starts today in Kigali, there is every reason for other African countries to emulate the steps Rwanda has taken in protecting the environment for the better future of our continent - Africa and mother earth as a whole.
Rwanda being chosen to host such an important event shows the recognition by the international community for her tireless efforts in environmental protection at a time when the effects of global warming are posing a great threat to the whole world.
As the Finance and Environmental Ministers and other government officials sit to discuss the impact of climate change, a lot more should be debated such as collective efforts towards attaining common goals.
Our government has taken remarkable strides but together as united countries, we can achieve much more.
Recently, government set aside a hefty Rwf 14 billion for environmental protection not because it has no other pressing issues, but because it was concerned by the horrible effects environmental degradation was doing to mother earth.
The ban on the use of polythene bags is a strong move which every African country could emulate to protect the environment.
Unless we rid the world of all environmental hazards and use environment-friendly bags; people will not stop using polythene, so proper implementation of recommendations must be adapted.
On climate change, scientists revealed that during the past 100 years, the world’s surface air temperature increased by an average of 0.6° Celsius (1.1°F). This may not sound like such a huge change, but even one degree can affect the Earth negatively.
During the 20th century, sea levels rose by about 15 cm (6 inches) due to melting glacier ice and expansion of warmer seawater. Models predict that sea level may rise as much as 59 cm (23 inches) during the 21st Century, threatening coastal communities, wetlands, and coral reefs.
The effects of climate change therefore, directly pose a great threat to the life of the future generations, and this calls for the intervention of each and everyone to act responsibly and ensure that environmental sustainability becomes a global reality.
Ends