Rwanda unveils Climate Laboratory, to measure global warming gases in Africa

Rwanda takes the credit of launching the first African Air Quality and Climate Laboratory. It is reportedly equipped with ‘Medusa system’, which will measure over 50 gases that deplete the ozone layer.

The ministries of Education, Environment and Rwanda Meteorological Agency in Rwanda has implemented the $2 million project in association with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The laboratory that will be based at the University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology will have equipment be installed on top of Mugogo Mountain in Nyabihu District and at Kalisimbi volcano so as to measure Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that deplete the ozone layer, as reported by The New Times.

The climate change in Africa will be observed by the equipment on the mountain, which will also detect the sources and amount of gases being emitted in regional nations including Rwanda. “This climate observatory project that set up the centre of excellence in Africa with air quality and climate lab will be informing policy makers on how to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Whereas, policy makers will be able to come up with measures to control car emissions, curbing deforestation and encouraging more tree planting, reducing use of fossil fuels, developing smart green cities and transport among many others,” said Rwanda’s current minister of education, Eugene Mutimura.

The renowned atmospheric scientist of climate observatory project, Dr. Jimmy Gasore said that the government predict weather events for adaptation and mitigation measures. “We are a team of technicians working on measuring if these global warming gases such as carbon dioxide and Hydrofluorocarbons are being reduced or not,” he added.