Rwanda has called on countries to renew their commitment to climate action and strengthen implementation of the Kigali Amendment as the 38th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP38) gets underway in Kigali.
Speaking at the opening of the preparatory segment, Minister of Environment Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye urged delegates to endorse the Kigali+10 Declaration, join the Friends of the Kigali Amendment initiative and translate commitments made during the meeting into national plans.
“Rwanda also makes three further requests. We ask you to endorse the Kigali+10 Declaration. We invite you to join the Friends of the Kigali Amendment, launched in New York together with Brazil and the United Kingdom. And we ask you to carry what you agree here back home, and into your national plans,” Arakwiye said.
She also reflected on the progress made since countries adopted the Kigali Amendment in October 2016, saying Rwanda was proud to welcome delegates back to the city a decade after the agreement.
The amendment commits countries to gradually phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), powerful greenhouse gases widely used in refrigeration and air conditioning. Its implementation is expected to help limit global warming while encouraging the transition to more energy-efficient cooling technologies.
Megumi Seki, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, called on countries to maintain the spirit of cooperation that made the 2016 agreement possible.
“Ten years ago here in Kigali, you showed the world what spirit of cooperation could achieve. This week we have another opportunity to demonstrate that the same spirit remains as strong as ever,” Seki told delegates, urging them to be ambitious, practical and united in their commitments.
MOP38 is taking place from November 2 to 6, 2026, bringing together governments, international organisations, industry representatives and other partners to review progress under the Montreal Protocol and advance global efforts to protect the ozone layer.
A major focus of the meeting is the tenth anniversary of the Kigali Amendment, with discussions also covering sustainable cooling, energy efficiency, refrigerant management and stronger implementation of the Protocol.
Delegates are also expected to negotiate the 2027–2029 replenishment of the Multilateral Fund, which supports developing countries in meeting their obligations under the Montreal Protocol, including the transition away from ozone-depleting substances and the phase-down of HFCs.
Rwanda’s hosting of MOP38 carries particular significance as the country seeks to build on the diplomatic achievement of 2016 and encourage stronger international cooperation on climate-friendly cooling.
The outcome of the meeting could help shape the next phase of global action on refrigerants, energy efficiency and support for countries working to meet their environmental commitments.
