Rwanda Steps Forward at COP31: Showcasing Green Growth, Seeking Climate Finance, and Building Partnerships in Antalya
ANTALYA, Türkiye — Rwanda is using the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) to promote its green growth agenda, seek more accessible climate finance and build partnerships that can turn climate commitments into investment, jobs and resilience.
Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva is leading Rwanda’s delegation at the conference, taking place in Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026, representing President Paul Kagame. During the high-level segment and World Leaders’ Summit on November 11–12, Rwanda has highlighted the need to connect global climate action with economic transformation and practical support for developing countries.
Rwanda’s priorities at the negotiating table
Rwanda’s negotiating agenda focuses on climate finance, adaptation, carbon markets, loss and damage, mitigation and a just transition. The country is advocating for a clear roadmap to deliver the annual USD 300 billion climate finance goal agreed at COP29, with greater access to grants and concessional funding for adaptation in vulnerable countries.
Rwanda is also pressing for implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation, stronger ways to measure progress, high-integrity carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and improved access to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. On mitigation and the just transition, it is calling for technology transfer, capacity building and financing that enable developing countries to move towards cleaner energy without leaving communities and economies behind.
The delegation is further calling for universal ratification and faster implementation of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which phases down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Rwanda recently hosted the 38th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, marking the amendment’s tenth anniversary.
Prime Minister highlights green industrialisation
On the evening of November 11, Prime Minister Nsengiyumva joined a high-level dialogue titled “Seizing the Green Industrial Opportunity: Investment, Jobs and Growth for Every Economy.” Speaking on behalf of President Kagame, he said green industrialisation can help tackle climate change while stimulating economic growth, attracting investment and creating jobs.
He highlighted Rwanda’s Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Programme, which has helped industries and small and medium-sized enterprises save more than 41 million megajoules of energy and reduce over 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The reported emissions reduction is equivalent to taking approximately 6,500 passenger cars off the road.
The programme has also generated net savings for participating businesses. Rwanda’s priority areas for green industrial development include renewable energy, clean cooking, electric mobility, sustainable agriculture, the circular economy and sustainable cooling.
The Prime Minister urged international partners to move beyond pledges and provide practical financing instruments, including blended finance, guarantees and carbon finance, to accelerate implementation.
Rwanda Pavilion promotes investment opportunities
Rwanda’s national pavilion at COP31 brings together government institutions, development partners, businesses and young people to showcase the country’s climate ambitions and investment opportunities.
The pavilion is presenting Rwanda’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), the Cabinet-endorsed Country Platform for Climate and Development, and opportunities in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, green cities, electric mobility and nature-based solutions.
Planned and ongoing sessions include discussions on the Country Platform and its shift from progress to delivery, the launch of a Climate-Smart Agriculture Programme, and the launch of Fund I of the Distributed Renewable Energy Fund under the Rwanda Green Fund Investment Arm.
Other engagements cover the Rwanda Green Fund Biodiversity Window, climate data transparency, ecosystem restoration and the operationalisation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Sessions are also addressing lessons from Rwanda–Singapore cooperation and the development of the Carbon Registry.
The Rwanda Green Fund has hosted a discussion on the Country Platform at the pavilion, while the Kigali International Financial Centre presented the Rwanda Sustainable Finance Roadmap 2.0. Environment Minister Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye delivered key remarks during the engagement.
Institutions supporting Rwanda’s climate diplomacy
Institutions represented in Rwanda’s delegation include the Ministry of Environment, led by Minister Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye; the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA); the Rwanda Green Fund, led by Chief Executive Officer Teddy Mugabo; the Kigali International Financial Centre; and Rwanda’s Embassy in Türkiye, represented by Ambassador Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Charles Kayonga.
REMA Deputy Director General and Lead Negotiator Faustin Munyazikwi has been involved in the technical negotiations since the beginning of the conference, contributing to Rwanda’s engagement on key climate issues.
Why COP31 matters for Rwanda
COP31 provides Rwanda with an international platform to translate its climate ambitions, guided by Vision 2050, the Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy and NDC 3.0, into investment and partnerships.
By positioning itself as a destination for green investment while advocating for fairer and more accessible climate finance, Rwanda is linking international negotiations to domestic priorities: protecting communities from floods and droughts, creating employment in emerging green industries and building a resilient, low-carbon economy.
The country’s message in Antalya is that climate ambition must be matched by implementation resources, technology and partnerships that deliver measurable benefits for people and businesses.
Updates from the Rwandan delegation are being shared under #GreenRwanda and #InvestInRwanda. Further information is available through the Ministry of Environment at climatechange.gov.rw.
Rwanda’s industrial efficiency results at a glance
The figures presented by the Prime Minister highlight the potential contribution of resource-efficient production to Rwanda’s green transition.
Source: Figures cited by Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva during the COP31 high-level dialogue. The three indicators use different units and are presented as separate results, not as a directly comparable scale.
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