18 January 2025

Third Kigali Climate Talks: COP29 and The Future of Climate Action

The Ministry of Environment in Rwanda and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kigali, in cooperation with the European Union Delegation to Rwanda and The Green Protector, hosted the third Kigali Climate Talks on Friday, 13 December 2024.

Building on the success of the first two editions, the event took place in an expanded format, featuring additional sessions led by Team Europe and The Green Protector, a youth-run climate advocacy organisation.

This event highlighted key outcomes from the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), served as a platform to communicate their relevance to Rwanda, promoted youth engagement in climate discussions, and strengthened green diplomacy and international collaboration on climate action.

The Talks opened with remarks by Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, and Heike Uta Dettmann, the German Ambassador to Rwanda. Both speakers underscored the urgent need for action to address global climate challenges and emphasised the importance of translating high-level negotiations and commitments into practical, impactful results.

“The Kigali Climate Talks are not only about “talking.” We have put our words into action, and the recent COP29 is a good example of this. Rwanda approached COP29 with clear objectives: advocating for increased climate finance, particularly for adaptation, supporting efforts to make Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on carbon markets more effective, and building new partnerships to accelerate our climate ambitions,” said Dr Valentine Uwamariya, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment.

“COP29 showed that while progress has been made, we must significantly increase the ambition of our climate actions to achieve the 1.5°C goal. As international climate negotiations evolve, it's clear that the next generation must lead. Your future depends on the actions we take today,” underscored the German Ambassador.

During the event, the Deputy Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority, Faustin Munyazikwiye, delivered a presentation on key outcomes of COP29, highlighting Rwanda’s engagement and participation.

“At COP29, Rwanda strengthened its contribution to climate negotiations and mobilised new resources and partnerships for green investment,” Faustin said.

A distinguished panel of speakers shared their insights on COP29, focusing on climate finance, youth engagement, and the role of the private sector in advancing climate action.

The European Union’s perspectives on COP29 outcomes, particularly on climate finance and the energy transition, were also highlighted. Speakers emphasised the importance of collaboration between Rwanda and Europe.

"Working together is the key to solving global challenges, and we see the power of collaboration between Europe and Rwanda to make meaningful change,” said Belén Calvo Uyarra, European Union Ambassador to Rwanda.

The panel also examined the implications of the COP29 decision to triple the annual climate finance target from USD 100 billion to USD 300 billion, particularly for Rwanda.

"For countries like Rwanda, it is definitely encouraging. It also puts us in a position where we are focusing on a strategy of combining both public funds and private funds at the same time. It means that access to finance will definitely increase,” said Laurène Manzi, Climate Finance Analyst of Rwanda Green Fund.

The private sector’s role in reducing carbon emissions and achieving Rwanda’s climate goals was also a focal point, with companies like BasiGo, an electric bus company, leading the way.

"We exist purely to support and help alleviate the climate crisis that's happening. Transport has been identified as a contributor to more than 40% of emissions. As BasiGo, we are seeing all these initiatives that the government is putting in place. We realise that this is really a way to be able to contribute to that dream. We must also focus on creating the right conditions to make change happen quickly and effectively," said Doreen Orishaba, Managing Director at BasiGo Rwanda.

Youth perspectives on COP29 outcomes were equally explored, reflecting their commitment to actionable solutions at the national level.

“We engage with the international processes to generate concrete action on a national level, with the sense that we are not going to blame any past mistakes. We want to showcase how a solution can and should be done. And with the support that we have, we will keep trying," said Grace Ineza, Chief Executive Officer of The Green Protector.

The third edition of the Kigali Climate Talks also featured two concurrent afternoon sessions.

The session led by the EU Delegation to Rwanda focused on integrated approaches to addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Highlighting the EU’s Team Europe Green Diplomacy strategy, the discussion emphasised the Rwanda-EU partnership and showcased transformative solutions to enhance climate resilience, conserve biodiversity, and promote sustainable development.

Another session, led by The Green Protector, provided an interactive platform for youth engagement. Participants delved into key outcomes of COP29, including Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, Loss and Damage, Climate Finance, Adaptation, Action for Climate Empowerment, and Transparency. They shared their perspectives on climate challenges, discussed strategies for active youth participation in global climate negotiations, and outlined ongoing plans in preparation for COP30 in Belém.

Resources

  • Learn more about Rwanda’s participation at COP29 here.
  • View photos from the third edition of the Kigali Climate Talks here.
  • Watch the third edition of the Kigali Climate Talks here.
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