Experts call for action to prevent climate change impacts

World leaders must act now to prevent climate change impacts which could be "catastrophic" for human health, experts have warned.

They made the call on Monday while participating in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) event in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

The two-day workshop gathered together more than 70 climate change experts across Africa and representatives from international organisations as well as the private sector.

The meeting aims at strengthening Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAS) as a tool for pre-2020 and post-2020 climate change action.

"Climate change interferes with human life. We call upon the World to apply the climate change convention principles and as well as measures for mitigation of, and adaptation to the impacts of climate change," said Faustin Munyazikwiye, a climate change expert at Rwanda Environment Management Authority.

He noted that state parties should put into consideration the adverse effects of climate change, human life and to adopt urgent and ambitious mitigation and adaptation to prevent further harm.

Rwanda was chosen to host the meeting because of its proactive approach in mainstreaming Climate Change in its long-term national development strategy.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the meeting, Dr Vincent Biruta, Rwanda minister of natural of natural resources said that Rwanda has developed the green growth and climate resilience strategy which provides responses to environmental pressures and climate change impacts.

"We need strong partnerships to address the possible causes of climate change. It's through strong collaboration and climate actions that we will find a solution to negative impacts of climate change," he said.

Early this month, Rwanda was accredited by the Global green climate fund (GCF) to access project-based climate finance from the world's largest climate change adaptation and resilience fund.

In April this year, the post-genocide country was ranked among top 20 world greenest places for 2015, according to World Travel Guide, an international travel guide for adventurous travellers.

A research, conducted by Rwanda Environment Management Authority in 2011 showed that the country faces a problem of air pollution caused by vehicular emissions resulting from poor maintenance and use of second hand vehicles.

In 2008, the small central African passed a law that banned the importation and use of polythene bags, while possession or smuggling them into the country attracted heavy penalties. Endit