Rwanda to Celebrate 2019 World Environment Day by Awarding Clean Air Champions

Every year on 5 June, Rwanda joins the rest of the international community to celebrate World Environment Day. To mark the occasion this year, the Ministry of Environment, through the Rwanda Environment Management Authority and partners, will host an event at the Kigali Convention Centre under the theme “Beat Air Pollution”. The gathering will award environmental champions who are working to address pollution and raise awareness about the causes of air pollution and how they can be mitigated.

Air pollution is a leading environmental threat to human health. Today, more than 90% of people globally breathe polluted air and approximately seven million people die from air pollution-related causes every year. Air pollution costs the global economy US $5 trillion in welfare costs annually and ground-level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26 per cent by 2030.

On World Environment Day, the Government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Environment Management Authority will present the 2019 Environmental Awards for projects and initiatives that focus on air pollution management. The awards recognise best practices and innovation in beating air pollution by districts, small and medium sized companies in the private sector, higher learning institutions and technical and vocational education and training schools, as well as the media. The awards will highlight initiatives by different sectors to improve air quality and encourage them to keep up their efforts.

As part of the event, a discussion will be held on air pollution mitigation, and the effects of air pollution on human health in Rwanda and impact on attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. The celebration will also feature the launch of Third National Communication Report on Climate Change.

World Environment Day and related activities have been organised in partnership with the Ministry of Health, City of Kigali, Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA), Rwanda Investigation Bureau, Rwanda National Police, Rwanda Standards Board and UNDP Rwanda.

Media Invitation

Media are encouraged to arrive at the Kigali Convention Centre no later that 13:00 on Wednesday, 5 June 2019.

• Josee Umubyeyi, Public Relations & Communications Officer, Ministry of Environment, on +250 788 455 198 or at jumubyeyi@environment.gov.rw.
• Germaine Mukasibo, Public Relations & Communications Officer, Rwanda Environment Management Authority, on +250 788 775 456 gmukasibo@rema.gov.rw.

World Environment Day Event Programme