The convention on clean cooking in Africa is the first-ever high-level Summit focused on providing clean cooking access to the more than 1 billion people in Africa. This is aimed at easing this access for those who currently lack it. The focus has been delivered through a breakthrough financial commitment that addresses one of the world’s most persistent and deep-seated inequalities.
The lack of access to clean cooking affects over 2 billion people worldwide with more than half in Africa, typically cooking over open fires and basic stoves. Whereas a majority are recorded to normally use charcoal, wood, agricultural waste, and animal dung as fuel, they inhale harmful toxic fumes and smoke with dire consequences for health. This use of unclean cooking means has been attributed to high cases of premature death in Africa.
Co-chaired by the leaders of the governments of Tanzania and Norway, the African Development Bank, and the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa has mobilized $ 2.2 billion in financial pledges from governments and the private sector. With more than 100 countries, international institutions, companies, and civil society organizations present, there was the signing of The Clean Cooking Declaration, pledging to make the issue a priority and enhancing efforts toward achieving universal access for all.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol commended IEA for its commitment to its leadership in initiating the summit stressing that the outcome of the Summit, $2.2 billion committed, can help support fundamental rights such as health, gender equality, and education while reducing emissions and restoring forests.
According to African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi A. Adesina, this is a great stride toward addressing the lack of access to clean cooking, that affects a billion people in Africa.
AfDB president revealed that through collaboration countries, anticipated an increase in the financing for clean cooking to $200 million annually over the next decade, while also scaling up the provision of blended finance for clean cooking through the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA).
“Following the summit, the IEA will employ a “double-lock system” to ensure that momentum behind clean cooking does not slow in the coming months and years. The agency will focus efforts on two areas. First, by using effective tracking methods to ensure that pledges and commitments are fulfilled, monitoring them carefully to ensure the money is spent promptly and reaches those in need. Second, the IEA will continue to play a convening role to engage more willing partners and generate new funds to help meet the $4 billion a year in capital investments required between now and 2030,” said Mr Adesina.
The Summit is the first time that such a large amount has been dedicated to clean cooking access at a single gathering, with the potential to make 2024 a turning point on an issue that has been overlooked for too long. The pledges made at the Summit come on top of other recent commitments including that of the African Development Bank at COP28 in Dubai.
Notably, the tools for enabling clean cooking access are readily available and affordable – and can have a profound impact on the lives of people across Africa and beyond. However, progress in many African countries has significantly lagged what has been seen in other regions in recent decades.
President Emmanuel Macron of France emphasized that it’s a step forward against this silent scourge adding that France pledges to invest €100 million over five years in clean cooking methods and will mobilize even more through the Paris Pact for People and the Planet and Finance in Common.
Yet women and children account for most of the lives lost, the vast majority of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Opportunities for education, employment, and independence are limited because women instead spend hours each day foraging for rudimentary fuels.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania pointed out that the Summit underscores a commitment to advancing this agenda and providing a framework for the universal adoption of clean cooking fuels and technologies across the continent.
Emphasizing that the summit seeks to ensure 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, health, and ensuring gender equality,” said President Suluhu.
The issue of clean cooking has finally reached the policymakers. It demands actionable steps toward ensuring equitability and access making 2024 a turning point on an issue that has been overlooked for too long. The pledges made at the Summit come on top of other recent commitments including that of the African Development Bank at COP28 in Dubai.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway reiterated that improvement of access to clean cooking is about improving health outcomes, reducing emissions, and creating opportunities for economic growth.
Remarking on Norway’s stance as one that is supportive as it remains a steadfast supporter of clean cooking, I was pleased to announce today that we are committed to investing approximately $50 million in this important cause.
