Rwanda has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling air pollution and protecting the ozone layer through new investments in clean technologies and stricter vehicle emissions monitoring, Environment Minister Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye said Tuesday.
Speaking on September 16, as Rwanda joined the world in marking the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, Arakwiye said the government is introducing state-of-the-art systems to test emissions and identify heavily polluting vehicles.
“Rwanda is investing in clean air. This program allows us to measure emissions more accurately and support drivers to adopt cleaner practices,” she said during a ceremony held in Kanombe Sector, Kicukiro District.
The minister noted that Rwanda’s drive is anchored in global agreements such as the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, which have united countries to phase out ozone-depleting substances.
Partnerships such as ACES Cooling, a regional training platform, are also helping Rwanda and other African countries share expertise in ozone protection, energy efficiency, food security, and climate resilience.
Researchers say global measures are paying off. “The ozone layer is healing because countries took coordinated steps like planting trees, promoting cleaner transport, and setting up air quality stations,” said Jean Rémy Kubwimana, who studies ozone recovery.
Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), said Rwanda is emerging as a continental leader in clean air policies. “We are committed to investing in green technologies and working with partners through projects like ACES Cooling,” she said.
She also pointed out that public engagement remains key. Just days before the official commemoration, REMA had organized the first-ever Race for Clean Air at Nyandungu Eco-Park, which drew students, families, and communities into a fun, fitness-centered campaign to raise awareness about the importance of clean air.
Under the second phase of its National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), Rwanda has set a target to reduce air pollutants by at least 38% between 2024 and 2029—equivalent to cutting 4.6 million tons of carbon dioxide by 2030.
That target aligns with the Paris Agreement, which Rwanda signed in 2016, committing to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees.
A regional perspective
Rwanda’s strategy is drawing attention across East Africa, where countries face similar challenges of rapid urbanization, growing vehicle fleets, and rising energy demand.
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Kenya has begun rolling out electric buses in Nairobi to cut transport-related emissions.
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Uganda has expanded tree-planting campaigns and is piloting electric motorbikes for urban commuters.
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Tanzania is exploring stricter fuel standards and investing in renewable energy projects to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Environmental experts say such regional initiatives, if coordinated, could accelerate East Africa’s transition to cleaner air and climate resilience.
“Rwanda’s approach shows what is possible when policy, technology, and community engagement come together,” said a regional environmental analyst based in Nairobi. “The rest of East Africa is moving in the same direction, and collective progress will matter most.”
