Rwanda recently submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC) its new national climate plan known as “Nationally Determined Contributions ( NDCs). This is part of plans to create essential equipment for implementing the Paris Agreement to address climate change.
The funding for its implementation will come from the government’s budget, Rwandan communities, the private sector, NGOs, the Rwanda Green Fund and international stakeholders
Doing Business looked into the report and compiled the top ten multimillion climate investments for mitigating and adjusting climate change over the next ten years.
$380 million efficient cooking stoves
Among the pledged investments are the distribution of new, effective cooking stoves to 80 per cent of the rural population and 50 per cent of the urban population by 2030 at a cost of $380 million with a goal of reducing cooking firewood and fossil fuel use, a move that will minimize forest pressure.
$285 million solar pumping for irrigation project
Rwanda has agreed to invest $285 million in the use of agricultural irrigation solar water pumping systems to replace diesel pumps, eliminate the use of fossil fuel that will minimize climate-change gas emissions and thereby increase food security.
$206 million solar mini-grid project
Government also plans to invest $206 million in solar mini-grids that could deliver 68 MW (Mega Watt peak) of off-grid rural areas by 2030, as reflected in the Rural Electrification Strategy.
This will reduce the use for domestic energy use of traditional biomass fuels, diesel and kerosene.
$900 million electric vehicles
The e-mobility program plans to phase the adoption from 2020 onwards of electric busses, passenger vehicles (cars) and motorcycles.
The program will require $900 million of investment to reduce harmful pollutants and increase population resilience to disease and adverse climate impacts.
$36 million for generation of energy from waste
Rwanda is seeking to invest $28 million in the extraction and use of gas landfills (LFGs) for electricity generation, which will then reduce methane gas emissions to air.
The country is also planning to invest $8 million in the establishment of Waste-to – energy (WtE) plants in Kigali.
Climate resilient crop varieties
It will invest at least $24 million on cultivating climate resilient crops and supporting climate resilient livestock.
This will reduce both land use and livestock emissions from gases.
It would help to increase farm and livestock insurance by at least $109.6 million.
Huge investments in afforestation
$16.8 million will be spent on boosting and reforestation of designated areas.
Improving the management of forests for degraded forest resources is estimated to cost $8.1 million while agroforestry and sustainable agriculture production would require $91 million.
$10 million early warning system
Establishing an integrated early warning system and emergency management plans would cost $10 million over the next five years, offering advance warning of severe weather events at least 30 minutes ahead.
$59 million for climate compatible mining
Rwanda will spend $59 million to increase the percentage of climate-compatible mining firms, reducing greenhouse gas emissions as energy efficiency initiatives improve.
$185 million for adaptation to outbreak diseases
At least $185 million will help improve preventive measures and develop capacity to respond to outbreaks of disease.
Some diseases are said to be triggered by climate change.
$164.3 million for water security
An investment of $164.3 million will be required to improve national water protection through water management activities, preservation of wetlands, water storage and productive use of water.
