Rwanda has reaffirmed its commitment to global environmental action and multilateral cooperation during the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) held in Nairobi, Kenya, on December 8-12, 2025.

Addressing delegates, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye, described UNEA as the world’s premier platform for environmental governance — a forum where nations not only assess progress, but collectively shape solutions for a healthier and more resilient planet.

Dr. Arakwiye underscored that climate change and biodiversity loss are no longer distant threats, but realities already affecting communities across the world, including in Rwanda. She noted that extreme weather events, ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity decline are increasingly impacting livelihoods, food systems, and economic stability.

Despite these challenges, she emphasized that the global community still has a critical opportunity to advance sustainable solutions that strengthen resilience while safeguarding human well-being and natural ecosystems.

Resilience at the core of Rwanda’s national agenda

The Minister highlighted that Rwanda has placed resilience at the centre of its national development agenda, supported by concrete policy frameworks and measurable targets.

Among these is Rwanda’s new National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which includes 22 targets aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Rwanda has also revised its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, increasing its ambition to achieve a 53 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

“These frameworks reflect our national commitments,” Dr. Arakwiye said, while stressing that no country can build resilience in isolation. “The challenges we face are global in nature and require global cooperation.”

Rwanda reiterated its strong belief in multilateralism, noting that the country is a Party to 18 Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). These agreements, the Minister said, serve as essential tools for protecting ecosystems, reducing pollution, addressing climate change, and strengthening resilience for both people and the planet.

Looking ahead, Rwanda expressed its support for an ambitious ninth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-9), emphasizing the need to scale up resources to match the urgency of global environmental challenges.

Minister Arakwiye also welcomed Member States to the 38th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol slated for November 2026 in Kigali. The gathering will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Kigali Amendment, a landmark agreement aimed at phasing down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to protect the ozone layer and combat climate change.