Climate Change and Rwanda

1Too much, too little

Byiringiro lives in Nyagatare, in the east. Last year, the rain was late and his family's maize dried up. His cousin Keza lives in Rubavu, in the west. There, one night, the rain was so heavy that the river flooded the road.

Too little rain in one place, too much in another. Today you will read how climate change affects Rwanda, and what Rwandans are doing about it.

2Reading: What is happening in Rwanda?

Rwanda is a green country of hills. Most families grow their own food, so the rain is very important. Farmers plant their crops when the rainy season begins.

But the seasons are changing. Scientists say that as the Earth gets warmer, very heavy rain and long dry spells happen more often.

Too much rain can be dangerous. In May 2023, very heavy rain fell in the Western and Northern Provinces. Rivers flooded, and on steep hills the wet soil slid down in landslides. Many homes, roads and fields were destroyed, and many families had to move.

Too little rain is also a problem. In some years, parts of the Eastern Province have had long droughts. The crops dried up, and there was not enough grass and water for the cows. When there is less food, prices at the market go up.

Rwandans are working hard to fight these problems. Farmers dig terraces on the hills, so the soil stays in place. Every year, people plant millions of trees. Rwanda banned plastic bags in 2008. In Kigali, some roads are closed to cars on Car Free Days, so people can walk and cycle. And more and more motos in Kigali are electric.

Read and think

3too much, too little, not enough

• too much = more than we need: There was too much rain, so the river flooded.
• too little = less than we need: There was too little rain, so the maize dried up.
• not enough = less than we need: There wasn't enough grass for the cows.
• With things we can count, use too many / too few: There are too many cars. There are too few trees on this hill.

4Talking about effects: When …, …

When there is too much rain, rivers flood. When there is too little rain, crops dry up. When people cut down the trees on a hill, landslides happen more easily.

Your turn: speak and write

Speak: Ask an older person in your family: Is the weather in our area different from when you were young? How? Tell the class what you learned.

Write a short report called Climate change in my district. Write one sentence with too much, one with too little or not enough, and one sentence about what people are doing to help.

Try it yourself

Write your answers in your exercise book, then check.