National Environment and Climate Change Policy

The National Environment and Climate Change Policy provides strategic direction and responses to the emerging issues and critical challenges in environmental management and climate change adaptation and mitigation. The key issues and challenges identified include high population density, water, air and soil pollution, land degradation, fossil-fuel dependency, high-carbon transport systems, irrational exploitation of natural ecosystems, lack of low-carbon materials for housing and green infrastructure development, inadequate waste treatment for both solid and liquid waste, increase of electronic, hazardous chemicals and materials waste, among others.

The policy is designed within the context of national, regional and global development commitments (e.g. Vision 2050 aspirations, National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (GGCRS), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2063, East African Community – EAC Vision 2050, etc.). It also provides a policy framework to tap into opportunities of a green growth led and climate resilient economy. The Environment and Climate Change Policy was developed through a consultative process involving all stakeholders. Consultations with actors at national and district levels, development partners, the private sector and CSOs informed the development of policy objectives and proposed policy actions. The policy goal is for “Rwanda to have a clean and healthy environment.