On June 5, Rwanda will host the global World Environment Day. This is a day that was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, with the goal of creating awareness about the environment and enhancing political attention and public action.

Rwanda understands that the environment is the basis of livelihood and unless it’s protected, future generations will pay the price of a damage they had nothing to do with.

It is in an effort to protect the environment that Rwanda has banned the importation of polythene bags, built terraces, planted trees and moved to protect the wetlands.

The World Environment Day celebrations shall be held in tandem with the Kwita Izina (Gorilla naming) ceremonies. This event, is yet another example of why Rwanda, will make the perfect host for the global Environment Day.

Kwita Izina is an annual ceremony, that proves that the country understands the need to protect and conserve the rare mountain gorilla. 

The Minister of the Environment and Lands, has urged Rwandans to fully embrace and be part of the World Environment Day. This can be done in more ways than one, including personal lifestyle changes that improve or conserve the environment.

One can limit the use of cars, turn off unnecessary lighting, or switch off electric appliances when not in use, or even use low -power bulbs.

Such adjustments may appear small, but they will make an enormous contribution towards making Rwanda an environmentally friendly country.

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