Rwanda, EU yet to discuss climate change funding

The Minister of State in charge of Environment, Water and Mines, Vincent Karega, has said that Rwanda is yet to hold discussions with the European Union (EU) on how to utilise the fund agreed upon by the EU to fight climate change.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Vincent Karega

The Minister of State in charge of Environment, Water and Mines, Vincent Karega, has said that Rwanda is yet to hold discussions with the European Union (EU) on how to utilise the fund agreed upon by the EU to fight climate change.

In a meeting in Brussels last week, EU leaders offered to contribute money to a global fund to help developing countries tackle global warming.

"We have not yet discussed this matter with the EU, but I trust Rwanda will definitely benefit as a good partner of the EU and as a country with results,” Karega said in an interview with The New Times.

"We are keen to know modalities and how soon we shall benefit from this funding”.

After breaking a deadlock at the meeting, the group decided on an offer that will be presented at upcoming climate talks in December in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Leaders agreed that developing countries need Euros100bn a year by the year 2020 in order to fight effects of climate change.

"Let us discuss the opportunity soon with EU and then we shall confirm Rwanda’s status,” Karega added.

The minister said such funds would be used for building institutional capacity, technological transfer and acquiring software to track and process data on weather and climate parameters.

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