One in three people still using dirty cooking methods: Study

Nearly one-third of the world’s population, approximately 2.3 billion people, still rely on open fires or primitive stoves for cooking, which not only poses health risks but also harms the environment, according to a study released on Wednesday.

The International Energy Agency and the African Development Bank Group have collaborated on this report and are advocating for an annual investment of $8 billion to ensure universal access to clean cooking facilities by 2030.

“The lack of access to clean cooking has adverse effects on public health, contributes to deforestation, and increases greenhouse gas emissions,” stated Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group.

The report highlights that the collection of wood and charcoal for cooking leads to the destruction of forested areas equivalent to the size of Ireland every year.

Exposure to smoke from burning charcoal, firewood, coal, agricultural waste, and animal dung for cooking causes 3.7 million premature deaths annually, making it the third-largest cause of premature mortality globally.

The report emphasizes that women bear the brunt of the negative impact of inadequate cooking facilities as they are typically responsible for gathering fuel, which hinders their education and employment opportunities.

While China, India, and Indonesia have made significant progress in reducing the number of people without access to clean cooking since 2010, the situation has worsened in Africa with no resolution in sight in the next thirty years, as per the report.

The IEA and the African Development Bank Group assert that the required annual investments of $8 billion amount to less than one percent of the funds allocated by governments for fuel subsidies last year.

“Solving the issue of clean cooking does not necessitate a technological breakthrough,” said Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA. “It ultimately depends on the political will of governments, development banks, and other entities committed to eradicating poverty and gender inequality.”

© 2023 AFP

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