Canada-Rwanda environmental cooperation

Plain language summary

The MOU was signed in Montreal in November 2017. It establishes a forum for ongoing cooperation and action concerning environmental protection. It seeks to enhance cooperation between Canada and Rwanda in five areas: climate change, the green economy, environmental compliance and enforcement, sustainable urban wetland management, and other environmental issues of mutual interest.

Objective

To enhance cooperation between parties on environmental and sustainable development issues, and to further efforts to address climate change and environmental protection.

Key elements

To implement this MOU, the two sides will cooperate through sharing best practices and lessons learned, capacity building and training initiatives, and participating in meetings and other cooperative activities.

The memorandum of understanding emphasizes the role of  gender equality and the importance of innovation towards clean growth, and a mechanism to add projects as annexes to the MOU.

Expected results

Through the sharing of best practices and expertise, the MOU is expected to support action on climate change and environmental protection in both countries.

Canada’s involvement

Canada and Rwanda worked together to encourage members to the Montreal Protocol to ratify the Kigali Amendment, which aims for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). To further this partnership, both countries agreed to sign an MOU on environmental cooperation.

The MOU also strengthens Canada’s bilateral relationship with Rwanda in the context of Canada’s G20 commitment towards Africa, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Results / progress

Activities

In October 2019, Canada and Rwanda held meetings in Kigali during which they approved a work plan outlining activities to implement the MOU. Priority projects for future collaboration were identified, including contaminated sites, implementation of the Kigali Amendment and carbon pricing. They also exchanged information on plastics management. As part of the Kigali meetings, Environment and Climate Change Canada, with other international partners, delivered a workshop on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registries.

In October 2021, Canada and Rwanda held a virtual meeting to discuss renewed cooperation efforts and activities adapted to a COVID-19 context.