The International Energy Agency (IEA) has highlighted a pressing issue affecting one billion Africans who rely on open fires or hazardous cooking fuels, leading to significant health and environmental concerns. This situation results in greenhouse gas emissions comparable to those of the aviation industry, exacerbating global warming.The IEA report indicates that roughly two billion people worldwide still use rudimentary cooking methods involving wood, charcoal, or agricultural waste. Fatih Birol, head of the IEA, described this reliance on polluting fuels as one of the greatest injustices of our time, particularly in Africa, where four out of five households depend on such methods. The pollutants emitted from these fuels are known to cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, contributing to approximately 815,000 premature deaths in Africa each year due to poor indoor air quality.
Moreover, the burden of collecting fuel disproportionately falls on women and children, who spend considerable time gathering resources, which in turn detracts from educational and employment opportunities.
Addressing this critical issue, the IEA has outlined potential solutions and pathways toward cleaner cooking methods. Following a summit in Paris last year that raised $2.2 billion in commitments, notable progress has already been made, including the construction of a stove factory in Malawi and the development of affordable stove programs in Uganda and Ivory Coast.
The IEA estimates that with an annual investment of just $2 billion—just 0.1% of global energy investment—the problems associated with cooking on open fires can be resolved. This investment could prevent 4.7 million premature deaths and reduce Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions by 540 million tons annually by 2040, which is equivalent to the emissions produced by global aviation.
Alternative cooking solutions, such as solar energy, renewable gases, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), have been identified as viable options that could dramatically improve health and environmental outcomes while preserving critical carbon sinks like forests. The IEA emphasizes the urgency of addressing these challenges.to improve quality of life and combat climate change in Africa.
