Rwanda Strengthens Fight Against Air Pollution on Clean Air Day

She made the remarks on September 16 as Rwanda joined the world in celebrating the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. The national event, held in Kanombe Sector, Kicukiro District, brought together government officials and environmental partners.

Dr. Arakwiye said Rwanda has launched advanced systems to test vehicle emissions and identify heavily polluting cars as part of its broader efforts to reduce harmful gases in the atmosphere.

“Rwanda is investing in clean air. This new program allows us to measure emissions more accurately and support drivers to adopt cleaner practices,” she said.

She added that the country’s actions are guided by global commitments such as the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, which unite countries around solutions to protect the ozone layer.

Rwanda has also partnered with ACES Cooling, a pan-African training platform, to promote ozone-friendly technologies, energy efficiency, food security, and climate resilience.

Researcher Jean Rémy Kubwimana said global measures, including tree planting, clean transport, and air quality monitoring, are already producing results. “The ozone layer is healing because countries took coordinated measures,” he noted.

Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), said Rwanda has positioned itself among continental leaders in clean air policy. “We are committed to investing in green technologies and working with partners through initiatives such as ACES Cooling,” she said.

Kabera also emphasized the importance of citizen engagement. Just days earlier, REMA had hosted the first-ever Race for Clean Air at Nyandungu Eco-Park. The September 13 event brought together students, families, and communities for a morning of fitness and awareness-raising, reinforcing the role of collective responsibility in safeguarding Rwanda’s air quality.

Under the second phase of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), Rwanda aims to cut air pollutants by at least 38% between 2024 and 2029. The government estimates this will eliminate 4.6 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, aligning with its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Signed by Rwanda in 2016, the Paris pact seeks to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with an ambition to keep it under 1.5 degrees.