REMA seeks to integrate Environment and climate change into the daily life of religious institutions
By Ange de la Victoire DUSABEMUNGU
Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in close collaboration with the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) are consulting religious leaders from across the country in order to have a collective understanding on the sustainable management of Environment and dealing with the issue of climate change.
The Rwanda Management Authority says “Religious leaders are able to reach a big number of people with the convincing message on the sustainable management of environment by supporting various initiatives put in place not only for the sake of environmental protection but also for the sustainability of the national economic growth.”
Responding to TOPAFRICANEWS after addressing the meeting with religious Leaders, Faustin Munyazikwiye, Deputy Director General of REMA revealed that “REMA in collaboration with RGB have organized a consultative meeting with all religious leaders to strengthen partnership” while at the same time seeking how to mainstream the issue of Environment protection and climate change in their daily activities.
REMA wants religious leaders to also preach and convey message on the sustainable land use, wetlands use, and forestry use among many other features of life.
“Since we believe that they are the ones who have the powers to change the mindset and the will of their followers’, we believe that if we work together it will be very fruitful to change the mindset of their followers especially when it comes to the environmental protection, rational use of natural resources, and others” Munyazikwiye added.
Rwanda’s policy goal on Environment protection is “to have a clean and healthy environment resilient to climate variability and change that supports a high quality of life for its society.”
This policy is implemented through action plans of development partners, CSOs and the private sector.
To religious organizations, Munyazikwiye reminded that “”A healthy spirit lives in a healthy body. As spiritual leaders, you are also encouraged to create a healthy environment for your followers and the world at large.”
