19 May 2021- Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Claver Gatete participated in a virtual Ministerial Plenary event on the Challenge of Creating a Feasible Pathway towards Carbon Neutrality organised by World Bank as part of the flagship biennial Global Infrastructure Forum taking place from 17 – 28 May, 2021 under the theme “Powering a Green, Inclusive, and Resilient Future”

The discussions were centered on the importance of co-creating credible decarbonization pathways and targets together with stakeholders across key sectors of the economy. Through a set of questions the panelists discussed how major economies are designing and implementing the transition to cleaner energy and extractives -including the role of metal mining-, the trade-offs they are facing, and the reforms and financing required to achieve country level aspirations.

In his remarks Minister Gatete spoke of the challenge of achieving carbon stabilization and was invited to reflect on the major priorities for action to decarbonize Rwanda’ economy in the next decade and to elaborate on the trade-offs and potential economic multipliers of the clean energy transition.

He also spoke about other Government program to promote climate change adaptation, mitigation and response which aims at shaping a resilient economy and the improved environmental well-being for Rwandans. Minister Gatete  stated the introduction of a new set of incentives to catalyze the adoption of electric vehicles, the increase of resilient infrastructures to the impacts of climate change and the introduction of clean cooking program to provide improved access to clean cooking solutions to Rwanda among others.

He said that climate crisis still remains and also demands an urgent response.