Denmark and Rwanda have announced a joint presidency to support 92 developing countries in developing and implementing more ambitious national climate plans.
Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jørgensen, kicked off his work as co-chair of the NDC Partnership organization late January with his Rwandan counterpart, Minister of Environment Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, during a Danish ministerial visit to Rwanda. The NDC Partnership is a global collaboration that supports developing countries in preparing and implementing their own national climate plans (NDCs).
“Rwanda is a climate frontrunner both in Africa and globally, and therefore the Danish government has a great interest in a close partnership with Rwanda. The chairmanship of the NDC partnership with Rwanda will be important in the work of translating the good results from COP28 into concrete efforts in the individual countries. Together with Rwanda, we can work to ensure that developing countries can realize their climate plans and at the same time increase their ambitions in the new climate plans that will be prepared for COP30 in Brazil. We stand strong together with Rwanda to increase the ambitions for global climate action and keep the 1.5ºC target within reach,” stated Dan Jørgensen.
The development of climate plans is based on the countries’ own wishes, needs and priorities. Denmark and Rwanda are leading the work of mapping the 92 countries’ climate priorities. This may involve finding new crops to grow when the climate causes more drought, reorganizing the health sector when higher temperatures allow malaria mosquitoes to thrive in previously malaria-free areas, or building dikes and dams to counter rising water levels. It could also be lowering countries’ emissions, for example through increased use of electric vehicles.
The overall goal of the partnership is to support countries to accelerate the implementation of their climate plans and increase ambition to reach the Paris Agreement targets. The NDC Partnership is widely recognized as a key player in raising global climate ambition.
More Solar Panels and Mini Hydropower Plants
During his visit to Kigali, Dan Jørgensen also focused on the Danish involvement in the African-led initiative Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA), which aims to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy in Africa.
“APRA inspires more green action while helping to deliver on the ambitious global COP28 renewable energy targets. It will not only inspire other countries, but also support the ambitious African countries that are already in the process of accelerating the energy transition. But the roll-out requires good framework conditions such as legislation and well-functioning institutions that can attract investment and commitment from the private sector. Rwanda is already well underway through the country’s Green Fund, which, with support from Denmark, will strengthen the private sector’s involvement in the green transition, including in the climate and energy area, for example through greater use of solar panels, mini hydropower plants and energy audits,” commented Jørgensen.