Climate Change Data

This section presents key data, and figures related to the climate, greenhouse gas, and climate change vulnerability indices to help users to understand climate change in Rwanda.

Climate Change in Rwanda

Temperature Increase

Rwanda has experienced a temperature increase of 1.4°C since 1970, higher than the global average, and can expect an increase in temperature of up to 2.0°C by the 2030s from 1970.

Rainfall Fluctuations

Rwanda is experiencing increased rainfall extremes. Rainy seasons are becoming shorter and more intense, especially in the northern and western provinces.

Climate Change Impact

Climate Change Dashboard
  • Every year in Rwanda, especially in the Western Province, there have been floods at different times, but the worst occurred in 1997, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2012.
  • Other effects are infrastructure damage, deaths and injuries, landslides, agricultural degradation, and environmental degradation.
  • The increase and spread of water-borne diseases have been observed in many places. Food shortages are also affecting health, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable, such as pregnant women, adults, and young children.
  • Rwanda has an abundance of natural water resources, such as the Nile source from the highlands, about 101 lakes, and 860 swamps, accounting for 16% of the country's total land area. However, the decline in water resources has been particularly noticeable in the Eastern Province. One of the reasons for this water shortage is climate change

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

AGRICULTURE

Livestock produced 3332.2 Gg CO2 emissions, while the Aggregate sources and non-CO2 emissions sources produced 966.79 Gg CO2 eq

WASTE

Waste sector generated 917.16 Gg CO2 eq in 2018, in which solid waste are the most emitting sub sector at 446.39 Gg CO2 eq in 2018

ENERGY

Energy contributed 34.86 % of 2,630.1 Gg CO2 eq, which is the total greenhouse gases in 2018, Transport produced 1,344.5 Gg CO2 eq

INDUSTRY

The Industrial Process and Product Use in 2018 produced 151.41 Gg CO2 eq in which cement production contribute 134.90 Gg CO2 eq

Climate Change Dashboard

The dashboard presents the summary of total greenhouse gas emissions and removals that was estimated for the period 2006-2018, and it presents the average of vulnerability indices in Rwanda (Adaptative capacity, exposure, sensitivity, impact, and vulnerability indices). Moreover, the map shows the vulnerability index in each district of Rwanda.

Climate Vulnerability Index

Documents

Assessment of Climate Change Vulnerability in Rwanda - 2018