Scaling up clean cooking for combating household pollution requires substantial investment. The International Energy Agency estimates that $10 billion annually is needed by 2030 to achieve universal access to clean cooking. Current investments fall short of this target.

For billions across the developing world, mealtime begins with lighting a fire—whether it’s a kerosene stove, charcoal grill, or a pile of logs. But this common practice comes with hidden dangers. The smoke produced is laden with toxic particles, contributing to what is known as household air pollution. This form of pollution not only jeopardizes health but also exacerbates climate change and biodiversity loss.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), household air pollution led to 3.1 million premature deaths in 2021. Martina Otto, Head of the Secretariat of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), highlights the gravity of the situation: “Household air pollution is one of the world’s greatest public health threats and it is particularly harmful for children. But the good news is that cleaner cooking technology is plentiful, relatively inexpensive, and already helping to save lives. The challenge now is to get this technology into the hands of more people.”

Despite its severity, household air pollution remains one of the most underinvested health and environmental issues globally. To spotlight this, the United Nations Environment Programme observed the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on September 7. This day aims to raise awareness about air pollution’s dangers and promote solutions such as cleaner cooking methods.

Household Air Pollution

Globally, nearly one in three people cook with inefficient stoves or over open fires, using solid fuels like wood, charcoal, and animal dung. This problem is particularly acute in Africa, where nearly four out of five people are exposed to harmful smoke. The broader air pollution crisis affects 99 percent of the global population, with household and outdoor air often deemed unsafe by WHO standards.

Household air pollution primarily arises from inefficient stoves and open fires. These produce fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – microscopic particles smaller than 10 microns that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing severe health issues. Fine particulate matter includes dirt, dust, smoke, soot, and black carbon.

Health Impacts

The health consequences of household air pollution are severe. Fine particulate matter can lead to pneumonia, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, low birth weight, and stillbirths. Children are particularly vulnerable because they breathe more rapidly than adults and have developing immune systems. In 2021 alone, household air pollution contributed to the deaths of 237,000 children under five.

Women also suffer disproportionately from household air pollution as they are primarily responsible for cooking. In Africa, women and children account for 60 percent of early deaths related to smoke inhalation, according to the International Energy Agency.

What is Clean Cooking?

Clean cooking refers to any stove or fuel combination that meets WHO guidelines for indoor air quality. This includes stoves powered by electricity, biogas, ethanol, and liquid petroleum gas (LPG). These alternatives are cleaner and more efficient compared to traditional solid fuels.

While all these options are healthier than open fires or traditional biomass stoves, they vary in their environmental impact. LPG, although efficient and producing less carbon dioxide than biomass, is a fossil fuel and thus unsustainable long-term. Biogas and bio-ethanol are cleaner and theoretically renewable but face challenges related to storage and feedstock production. Electric cooking appliances, particularly those powered by renewable energy sources, offer the most potential for rapid deployment and low-carbon solutions.

Environmental; Climate Benefits

The environmental benefits of switching to cleaner cooking methods are significant. Globally, more than half of the trees cut down are used for firewood and charcoal, leading to deforestation and loss of biodiversity. Cleaner fuels like kerosene and natural gas help counteract deforestation, protecting vital habitats for plants and animals.

In terms of climate change, high-polluting cooking fuels release as much carbon dioxide as the aviation sector. Cleaner appliances, such as electric stoves, can reduce these emissions. According to John Christensen, Director of the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, “Technological development and cost reductions have made electric cooking increasingly affordable.” Many developing countries, particularly in Africa, are expanding their renewable energy infrastructure, making electric cooking solutions more accessible.

Progress and Challenges

Since 1990, the global population relying on polluting cooking fuels has decreased from over half to 29 percent in 2021. This shift has contributed to a 36 percent reduction in deaths from household air pollution since 2000. However, access to clean energy remains limited in South Asia and parts of Africa, where hundreds of millions still depend on solid fuels.

Scaling up clean cooking requires substantial investment. The International Energy Agency estimates that $10 billion annually is needed by 2030 to achieve universal access to clean cooking. Current investments fall short of this target. Martina Otto emphasizes the need for increased funding and affordable financing for households to purchase clean cooking technologies, particularly solar-based solutions. She also advocates for including clean cooking targets in countries’ climate pledges, due in 2025.

International Day of Clean Air

The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, facilitated by UNEP, is a crucial event to highlight the importance of clean air for health, productivity, and the environment. This year’s theme, “Invest in #CleanAirNow,” underscores the economic, environmental, and health benefits of investing in clean air technologies. As the world grapples with the challenges of household air pollution, the push for cleaner cooking solutions remains a vital step towards safeguarding health, the environment, and the climate.