Rwanda is seeking more predictable and accessible climate finance, alongside investment and technology partnerships, as it joins countries at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.
The conference opened on November 9 and runs until November 20, bringing governments together to discuss emissions cuts, adaptation, climate finance and implementation of commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Rwanda’s delegation is led by Faustin Munyazikwiye, Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and the country’s lead climate negotiator.
The Ministry of Environment says Rwanda will prioritise adequate, predictable and accessible funding, particularly for programmes that help communities and key economic sectors adapt to climate impacts and strengthen resilience.
The country also plans to advance discussions on carbon markets, loss and damage, greenhouse gas reductions and a just transition that takes account of people whose livelihoods may be affected by the shift to a low-carbon economy.
Rwanda will use the conference to seek partners and investment for its updated Nationally Determined Contribution, known as NDC 3.0. The plan sets out the country’s climate commitments through 2035, including measures to reduce emissions and prepare for climate risks.
Its priorities cover sectors such as energy, agriculture, transport, waste management and land use. Rwanda is also looking to strengthen adaptation, including climate-resilient agriculture and water security.
Climate finance is expected to be a central issue at COP31, particularly for developing countries that face high costs in preparing for floods, droughts and other climate-related impacts while also investing in cleaner energy and infrastructure.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell urged governments to focus on practical delivery rather than relying on targets alone. In his opening statement, he said COP31 must “supercharge solutions”, including by accelerating renewable energy and cutting methane emissions.
The conference’s World Leaders Climate Action Summit is scheduled for November 11 and 12. It will bring heads of state and government together to discuss ways to accelerate climate commitments, strengthen cooperation and improve access to finance.
COP31 follows the 2025 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, where countries agreed to develop a Just Transition Mechanism and adopted the Belém Technology Implementation Programme.
The Ministry has also stressed the need for funding that developing countries can access without prohibitive costs, particularly for projects whose benefits take years to materialise. Rwanda’s delegation is expected to use the Antalya meetings to present its NDC 3.0 priorities to governments, development partners and investors, and seek support for projects in the sectors covered by the plan.
