Global leaders pledge billions to combat deadly traditional cooking methods in Africa
Governments and private sector leaders from nearly 60 countries who came together during the Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa held in Paris this week, have pledged funds to address pressing health issues on the continent.
The summit, which aimed to extend clean cooking access to over 1 billion people in Africa who predominantly rely on open fires and basic stoves, drew attention to the detrimental health effects of traditional cooking methods.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the use of charcoal, wood, agricultural waste, and animal dung as fuel exposes individuals to harmful toxic fumes and smoke, resulting in severe health consequences.
The agency has identified dirty cooking as the second leading cause of premature death in Africa, with women and children bearing the brunt of its impact.
Co-chaired by the governments of Tanzania and Norway, alongside the African Development Bank and the International Energy Agency, the Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa succeeded in mobilizing an impressive $2.2 billion in financial pledges from both governmental and private sector entities. With close to 60 countries participating in the summit and over 1,000 delegates in attendance, the event garnered significant global attention.
“Ensuring clean cooking access for all in Africa needs adequate, affordable, and sustainable financing for appropriate solutions and innovations; adequate global attention; and smart policies and partnerships. Successfully advancing the clean cooking agenda in Africa would contribute towards protecting the environment, climate, and health, and ensuring gender equality,” said Samia Suhulu Hassan, President of Tanzania
To ensure continuity with the project, the IEA has indicated that it “will employ a “double-lock system” to ensure that momentum behind clean cooking does not slow in the coming months and years.”
