Government priotises environment, climate to bolster green economy

Vicent Biruta

In its short term development strategy, the government is banking on environment and climate change mitigation to promote green economy by 2020.

Greening the economy is seen as one of the drivers towards achieving its middle income which prompted government to adjust its second Economic Development and Poverty reduction Strategy- EDPRS II.

“From aspiration not actions the government has revised its 2020 and made environment and climate change across cutting issue,” said Vicent Biruta, Minister of natural resources on Friday.

While launching the fourth State of Environment and Outlook Report 2016, the Minister noted that the report provides a testimony for the government’s promotion of cohesion and economic empowerment.

“This is the testimony of our collaboration and efforts in protecting our environment but also specially dealing with impacts of climate change,” he added.

The report highlights the state of the environment in the country as well as provides the progress on the country’s commitments in bolstering the green economy.

“The fourth edition of the report is unique in that it provides an in depth analysis of a specific sector key to Rwanda’s sustainable economic development,”said Eng. Coletha Ruhamya, acting director general of the Rwanda environment management authority.

The country committed to promoting sustainability across all sectors including agriculture, forestry, water resources, mining and activities that conserve the environment.

The report under the theme, “Greening agriculture with resource efficient, low carbon and climate resilient practices” calls for better policies as  well as methods in the agriculture sector in order to  a achieve a green  sector.