Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Dr Bernadette Arakwiye, has been elected to chair the 38th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP38), an international agreement aimed at protecting the ozone layer.
In her new role, Arakwiye will lead discussions reviewing progress made by countries in implementing the treaty and identifying measures to strengthen compliance with its commitments.
She was elected during MOP38, which is taking place in Kigali from November 2 to 6, 2026, bringing together countries that have signed the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment, adopted in 2016.
The discussions under her leadership will focus on assessing national progress in protecting the ozone layer, identifying areas requiring further action and strengthening international cooperation.
The meeting also provides a platform for countries to develop coordinated approaches to ozone protection as the world continues to address the effects of climate change.
Adopted in 1987, the Montreal Protocol seeks to phase out the production and use of substances that deplete the ozone layer, which protects humans and other living organisms from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
In 2016, Rwanda hosted negotiations that led to the adoption of the Kigali Amendment, which targets the gradual reduction of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). These gases are widely used in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment but contribute significantly to global warming.
MOP38 comes ten years after Rwanda hosted the negotiations that resulted in the Kigali Amendment. The meeting offers countries an opportunity to review their commitments and accelerate efforts to protect the ozone layer and address climate change.
