Research shows that emissions from vehicles and smoke from cooking with firewood and charcoal make up 80% of the pollutants contaminating Rwanda’s air. Citizens are urged to comply with regulations aimed at protecting the environment, while the government should help address existing challenges.
A study by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) reveals that in 2021, emissions from vehicles accounted for 40%, while firewood and charcoal for cooking also contributed 40%. The remaining 20% was from various sources, including outdated electronic devices and other waste.
Eric Mudakikwa, the Head of the Research and Kivu Lake Conservation Department at REMA, said that although Rwanda has made good progress in environmental conservation, there is still a long way to go.
He said, “What I would tell the public is that they should follow government regulations on environmental protection, including preventing land degradation, protecting water bodies, avoiding illegal sand mining, and refraining from cutting down forests unlawfully.”
He reminded people that we all live on the same planet, so cooperation in protecting the environment is essential, as environmental damage negatively affects everyone.
In ongoing awareness campaigns, discussions have been held with environmental protection partners, urging them to develop projects that further enhance conservation efforts.
Some participants in the campaign held at the University of Rwanda’s Huye campus stated that after seeing Rwanda’s situation, they are determined to strengthen efforts to prevent environmental damage.
Christian Gasaro mentioned that they are working on a technology project that will help reduce air pollution and environmental damage.
He said, “We are developing a mobile technology project that will help citizens understand how to reduce air pollution through their daily activities.”
Hitimana Frodouard, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda, emphasized the need for proper household waste management.
He said, “Besides smoke from cooking in homes and other places, household waste also pollutes the air as it decomposes and generates dirt, and in Rwanda, we have not yet reached the level of effectively recycling such waste.”
He pointed out that people should adopt the habit of separating biodegradable waste from non-biodegradable waste to make recycling easier.
The research conducted shows that air pollution in Rwanda is most prevalent during the dry season when the sun is intense, while it decreases during the rainy season as rain cleanses the atmosphere.
Proposed solutions include intensifying efforts to train citizens on cooking with gas and lowering its price to make it more affordable. Another suggestion is the use of energy-efficient stoves.
Suggestions were made to reduce vehicle emissions by enforcing laws that prevent old cars from being imported into Rwanda, and imposing taxes on owners of old vehicles to discourage their use and reduce air pollution.
Citizens were also encouraged to use public transportation instead of everyone owning a private car, as this would decrease the number of vehicles in the country.
It was also highlighted that people could use bicycles for their travels since Rwanda is a small country, and efforts should be made to introduce electric motorcycles in the country.
