Rwanda can attain a sustainable green economy if, on top of the current interventions to reduce greenhouse gas emission, more sources of renewable energy are promoted.
Rwanda can attain a sustainable green economy if, on top of the current interventions to reduce greenhouse gas emission, more sources of renewable energy are promoted.
This was said by Sir David King, the UK foreign secretary’s special representative for climate.
While briefing the media at the residence of the UK High Commissioner in Kigali after his two day tour of the country, yesterday, Sir King said creation of more renewable energy sources would not only reduce the burden on electricity but also ensure a decline in carbon gases emissions to the atmosphere.
"Less consumption of electricity means less expenditure on energy whereas reduced carbon dioxide emissions would ensure less damage to the environment,” King said.
Concerning the economic impact of the different energy sources, King noted that the cost of producing energy from fossil fuels is still high than from any other sources.
"Producing energy from fuels like diesel requires extra costs to cater for transport and still through paying the price for the hard earned foreign currency. Because of damages from heavy trucks there would still be constant need for road repairs,” King added.
According to King, authorities can also embark on best practices that are environmental friendly in the fields of agriculture.
"Use of biogas and indigenous fertilisers would reduce reliance on imported fertilizers that are even expensive,” he added.
As part of the interventions to create sustainable energy sources, the UK government, together with the European Union, is working on a project that will see disbursement of $15 billion per year for 10 years to coordinate research activities in sustainable energy sources.
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What it is
Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat.
Renewable energy is important because of the benefits it provides. Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies.
Energy for our children’s children’s children. Renewable energy will not run out. Ever. Other sources of energy are finite and will some day be depleted.
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