UEM presents church environmental project from Rwanda at climate summit in Glasgow

The Anglican Church in Rwanda equips households in rural regions with energy-efficient stoves; © Photo: Martina Pauly/UEM

At the climate summit in Glasgow last Monday, theUEM showed a video about the successful approach of the church organisation "Rural Development Interdiocesan Service" (RDIS) from Rwanda to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The climate protection project consists of the production and distribution of energy-saving stoves which, compared to conventional fireplaces in the region, use about 45 percent less firewood or charcoal. The lower demand for wood not only counteracts the deforestation of trees in Rwanda, but also reduces CO2 emissions. In addition, the energy-saving stoves do not produce as much smoke and are therefore less harmful to people's respiratory tracts and eyes.

The project is now being copied in other UEM member churches, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the north-west of Tanzania.

RDIS is sponsored by the Anglican Church in Rwanda, a member church of the UEM. The energy-efficient stoves developed by RDIS were certified last year with the "Gold Standard for the Global Goals".

Click here for the video.