KIGALI, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda on Tuesday launched a financial scheme that seeks to support the country's efforts to promote clean, environmentally friendly and energy efficient cooling systems.
"The financial scheme we have launched today is an important factor in Rwanda's journey to advance clean cooling, meet our obligations under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and play our part to address climate change crisis," said Vincent Biruta, Rwandan minister of environment, at the launch in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda.
The innovative financial mechanism dubbed Coolease Financial Mechanism responds to the needs of both consumers and suppliers to access efficient cooling systems that the country needs in order to phase out ozone-depleting greenhouse gases used as refrigerants, said Biruta.
By providing efficient cooling systems, Rwanda can also improve hospital vaccine and medication storage and agricultural cold chain facilities, he said.
According to him, the cooling financial scheme includes a green growth guarantee fund that will make it possible for companies or individuals utilizing efficient cooling systems.
The financial scheme is integrated into Rwanda's clean cooling strategy and has risk mitigation, capacity building and awareness elements to ensure its success, he said.
Rwanda will soon unveil a national cooling strategy that outlines the findings of a recent assessment of the current and future market for cooling products, according him.
The mechanism is supported Business Development Fund of Rwanda, Rwanda's Green Fund, the United Nations Environment Program , according to the ministry of environment.
