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By Annonciata Byukusenge
Rwanda is preparing to host a major international conference on protecting the ozone layer, the atmospheric shield that guards the planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
The 38th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, known as MOP38, will take place in Kigali from November 2-6, 2026.
Environment Minister Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye said the gathering comes a decade after Rwanda last hosted the meeting in 2016, when member states adopted a landmark revision to the Montreal Protocol known as the Kigali Amendment.
Rwanda signed the Montreal Protocol in 2003. The treaty aims to phase out substances that deplete the ozone layer.
The Kigali Amendment specifically targets hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), gases widely used in refrigeration and cooling equipment. While HFCs do not harm the ozone layer directly, they are potent greenhouse gases that contribute significantly to global warming.
Under the amendment, countries have committed to cutting HFC use and promoting cooling technologies that are both ozone-safe and climate-friendly.
Speaking to reporters on September 16, Arakwiye said MOP38 would give countries a chance to take stock of progress made in implementing the Kigali Amendment and to chart priorities for the years ahead.
“MOP38 is an opportunity to look at the progress made so far but also to identify what more needs to be done to fully deliver on our commitments,” she said.
She added that cutting HFC emissions and improving the efficiency of cooling equipment could deliver benefits well beyond climate action.
“These efforts can play a major role in protecting the climate, but they also matter for food security, healthcare, and economic development,” she said.
Megumi Seki Nakamura, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, said returning to Kigali would allow parties to reflect on how far they have come since the Kigali Amendment was adopted.
“Meeting again in Kigali gives parties to the agreement a chance to assess the progress achieved and reinforce implementation over the next ten years,” she said.
Beyond the formal negotiations, Rwanda will host side events focused on cooling technologies, innovation, and the practical rollout of the Kigali Amendment. An exhibition of cooling equipment is also planned, alongside discussions on investment and partnerships to support climate action.
Organizers expect roughly 1,000 delegates to attend MOP38.
