Academia, Public and Private Sector Discuss Climate and Energy Policies

As part of UR Innovation Week, on November 21, UR GIIH, in partnership with Chalmers University and Energy Private Developers (EPD), hosted an Energy and Climate Policy Dialogue. This event brought together academia, the private sector, government, and donors to share perspectives on the challenges of energy policy, with a special focus on implementing clean cooking policies in Rwanda.

Participants engaged in small group discussions, exchanging insights on the clean cooking policy implementation process, the challenges faced, and potential solutions. The dialogue also highlighted successful practices from abroad that could be adapted in Rwanda.

In his opening remarks, Mugiraneza Jean Bosco, Director General of Energy at the Ministry of Infrastructure, noted that the latest census revealed that 76% of Rwandan households rely on firewood for cooking. This underscores the significant challenge Rwanda faces in achieving universal access to clean cooking solutions by 2030.

Mugiraneza emphasized that reaching this target will require innovative technologies from various stakeholders, scalable solutions, and policies that address affordability and infrastructure barriers.

"Together, through collaboration and innovation, we can develop actionable solutions that ensure no one is left behind in Rwanda’s journey toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. Let’s maintain the momentum from this dialogue and consider the ideas and recommendations shared here today,” he said.