Rwanda Marks National Clean Air Day with Call for Collective Action

Rwanda Marks National Clean Air Day with Call for Collective Action Rwanda has reaffirmed its commitment to improving air quality and protecting public health as the country marked the national celebration of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, under the theme “Clean Air for Health, Prosperity and a Sustainable Future.” The event, held in Kigali, brought together representatives from government, academia, the private sector, the health sector and other stakeholders to discuss progress, challenges and practical solutions for improving air quality in Rwanda. The national celebration followed the global observance of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on 7 September. Speaking at the event, Fidèle Bingwa, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, emphasised that achieving cleaner air requires collective responsibility and stronger collaboration among different stakeholders. “Having clean air is a shared goal. The conversation should now be about how we achieve it, through collective action, stronger partnerships and practical solutions that improve air quality and protect people’s health,” he said. Fidèle Bingwa, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Environment Bingwa noted that Rwanda still has significant room to improve its air quality, stressing that progress will require practical and achievable targets implemented progressively. “At the moment, if you look at our air quality, I think we need to improve it. The air needs to be cleaner by maybe three or four times,” Bingwa said. He added: “We’re not going to get there today, but we’ll get there slowly.” Rwanda is strengthening its air-quality monitoring systems to generate reliable data that can guide interventions, inform standards and support evidence-based environmental management. “We already have an air quality monitoring system that we’re trying to improve,” Bingwa said. “You don’t want to regulate people without facts, so you need to measure.” The country currently has 23 air-quality monitoring stations that measure pollutants including fine particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide. The monitoring system provides regularly updated information on air quality, which is also made available to the public through digital platforms, allowing people to check air-quality conditions in their areas. The data collected is helping authorities identify pollution hotspots, understand major sources of emissions and determine where interventions are most needed. Transport remains an important area of focus in Rwanda’s efforts to reduce air pollution. The country has strengthened vehicle emissions testing to ensure that vehicles operating on its roads meet established emissions standards. The requirements have also been extended to motorcycles, which represent a significant share of the vehicles on Rwanda’s roads. At the same time, Rwanda is promoting cleaner mobility options, including public transport, walking, cycling and electric mobility. “We need to encourage people to buy electric vehicles. We need to encourage people to take buses. We need to improve our public transportation,” Bingwa said. REMA is also encouraging vehicle owners to properly maintain their vehicles, use public transport where possible, and consider walking and cycling as alternatives for shorter journeys. Efforts to improve air quality extend beyond the transport sector. Domestic fuel use, particularly the burning of wood and charcoal for cooking, remains an important source of air pollution. Rwanda is therefore promoting cleaner cooking solutions and more efficient technologies, including electricity, gas and other cleaner fuels. Industrial activities, construction, mining and quarrying can also contribute to air pollution through emissions and dust. Open burning of waste and agricultural residues is another source of pollution that requires attention. The Government is working with industries to strengthen e