Image: Nduba Landfill in Kigali City, (The landfll is known as one source of methane gas which is the greenhouse gas and the short lived pollutants); Source: igihe.com

On July 2nd and 3rd, the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA will host a workshop for the “National Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Plan (SLCP) and Methane Roadmap, the development of these plans is led by The African Institute for Mathematical Science (AIMS). This workshop will bring together the key stakeholders including public, private, and non-profit sector organizations and development agencies to discuss the expected outcomes of the plan and explore opportunities for partnership to implement it, to advance Rwanda’s climate action initiatives. This significant event will take place at the Kigali Serena Hotel.

Through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), a global collaborative effort among governments, intergovernmental organizations, private sector entities, and civil society members, the Government of Rwanda received support to develop comprehensive plan to address Short lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), including methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone.

CCAC reported that the Short-lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) are responsible for up to 45% of current global warming and are known to have significant health impacts, contributing to around 7 million premature deaths annually due to air pollution according to the World Health Organization. Rwanda, with its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 38% by 2030, recognizes the importance of addressing these pollutants.

Leveraging CCAC’s support, Rwanda aims to develop its national SLCP mitigation plans and methane roadmap to align with its emission reduction goals.

 "The National Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) plan and Methane Roadmap are key policy documents that inform the Government of Rwanda's future climate action efforts. Effective management of SLCP emissions helps the country mitigate climate change impacts and enhances air quality, public health, and agricultural productivity," said Juliet Kabera, the Director General of REMA. This highlights the importance of engaging multi-sector stakeholders and undertaking capacity-building activities to realize these multifaceted benefits.

Furthermore, the development of these plans will enhance the Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) framework for SLCP emissions and integrating methane actions into its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by 2025. They will also foster new partnerships to promote sustainability and political endorsement of the SLCP Plan and Methane Roadmap, identifying abatement measures, challenges, and benefits.

The Rwandan SLCP plan and methane roadmap will outline strategies for mitigating SLCP emissions across various sectors, including agriculture. This provides a policy framework and guiding principles for integrating SLCP mitigation measures into national development strategies and sectoral plans.