Rigorous analysis indicated the clear evidence of climate change at the global level because the global temperature has risen about 1 degree Celsius from the 1880s. The evidence is also observed at the Rwanda scale.
Evidence of Climate Change in Rwanda
Rwanda is experiencing severe droughts, especially in the east and southeast. These changes are related to global warming. Climate Change effects have been experienced in Rwanda:
An analysis of the temperature measurements taken in Kanombe and Kamembe between 1971 and 2009, shows that the temperature increased by 1.2 Celsius in Rwanda, while the average temperature increase at the global level is 0.8 Celsius in the period of 150 years
Rwanda is experiencing an increasing temperature, where during the daytime; sometimes the temperature is more than 30 degrees Celsius.
During the rainy season (March, April, and May) the sunny days have been increased
Rainy seasons are becoming shorter and more intense, especially in the northern and western provinces. Which in turn affects agricultural production;
Sometimes one rainy day can even have approximately the average amount of rainfall per month. This causes floods, landslides, etc
The number of days of rainfall per year decreased. Estimates at Kanombe station indicated that between 1971 and 2009, the number of days of rainfall per year fell from 148 to 124 days
Key evidence of climate change at the global level
The temperature has risen to 0.8 Celsius in a period of 150 years
Global sea levels rose between 10 and 20cm (8ins) in the last century
The number of weather-related disasters has increased by a factor of five over 50 years
Since the 1800s, the oceans have become about 40% more acid, affecting marine life
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This portal serves as an information hub on climate change in Rwanda and provides a platform for climate change practitioners and stakeholders to discuss, network and share climate change knowledge and information to support Rwanda to become a developed, carbon-neutral and resilient nation.