Climate action: Rwanda is a laboratory of innovative ideas.

Like many other countries, Rwanda continues to experience effects of climate change, including landslides and droughts. The government and citizens, with the support of the UN, have taken several climate actions to tackle the challenges. In this interview with Africa Renewal's Kingsley Ighobor at COP27, the UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, Ozonnia Ojielo, explains some of the innovative climate actions in Rwanda and highlights the outcomes he expects from COP27. These are excerpts from the interview:

Ozonnia Ojielo

What is your assessment so far of COP27?

It was important for me to attend COP27 because officials of the government of Rwanda came here in significant numbers, given the multiplicity of climate issues that interest them. And the UN system is in sync with the government in terms of development aspirations. From Rwanda's perspective, it's been an outstanding COP.

On the first day, President Paul Kagame launched a green investment facility at an event that was well attended. The investment facility was oversubscribed-while the target was $100 million, over $104 million was realised within 30 minutes.

The Minister of Environment [Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya] and other government officials and members of the civil society are still here in the second week. Many high-level conversations have taken place, including the signing of a Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) facility agreement with Germany.

Rwanda is acknowledged as a pacesetter in national responses to climate change effects.

Now, from an African or developing countries' perspective, there seems to be movement on key important agenda items, but the movement is incremental. We are hopeful our leaders will come up with the right solutions.

Africa is not asking for a favour from the Global North; Africa is still suffering from the historicity of the impact of the industrial revolution, a consequence of the development approaches of the Global North. The continent accounts for the lowest share of global greenhouse gas emissions but suffers the brunt of the climate crisis. These issues need to be factored into the conversation.

Africa is not asking for a favour from the Global North; Africa is still suffering from the historicity of the impact of the industrial revolution, a consequence of the development approaches of the Global North. The continent accounts for the lowest share of global greenhouse gas emissions but suffers the brunt of the climate crisis. These issues...