KARONGI – Local leaders have vowed to adopt measures and strategies that will enable them to cope with climate change.This resolution was reached during a consultative meeting between local leaders and agricultural officers organised by the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) in Karongi District yesterday.

Samuel Karangwa, the agricultural officer in Gitesi Sector, observed that there was need to protect and conserve the environment in order to cope with escalating climate change.

"When there is poor conservation of the environment climate changes becomes worse. It is very important to put in place measures aimed at protecting natural resources such as forests and lakes,” he said.

Karangwa pointed out the need to streamline climate change issues into district planning processes in order to avoid its negative impacts.

Imamaculee Uwimana, a specialist in Clean Development Mechanism at REMA, called for more efforts to create awareness amongst the local population on planning and implementing activities related to climate change.

"Climate has both negative and positive effects on various sectors such as agriculture and health. These in turn affect the socio-economic status of the general population,” she cautioned.