NAITOBI, Kenya (KAAB TV) – In a bid to address the pressing need for clean cooking solutions in Africa, the Clean Cooking Summit, scheduled to convene in Paris on May 14th, aims to secure commitments toward the $4 billion required to provide access for 250 million African women by 2030.
The event, co-chaired by prominent figures including African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol, is expected to build on groundbreaking initiatives launched at COP28.
Almost one billion Africans utilize polluting fuels for cooking, resulting in approximately 500,000 annual deaths, predominantly among women and children. Additionally, this practice contributes to the depletion of forests due to the gathering of wood for fuel.
Dr. Adesina highlighted the significance of this summit, stating, “Women and girls spend up to five hours a day collecting fuel and cooking. This leaves little time for education, social or economic activities.” He emphasized the urgent need for action, considering the staggering health and economic costs associated with traditional cooking methods.
The $4 billion annual investment required is deemed feasible, representing a fraction of global energy investments.
The summit aims to mobilize this financing by bringing together governments, development partners, private companies, and NGOs to make concrete commitments and develop action-oriented strategies.
Dr. Adesina outlined a three-pronged approach to achieve universal clean cooking access in Africa, which includes directing a portion of annual energy investments towards clean cooking solutions and leveraging multilateral institutions’ financing.
At COP28, the African Development Bank pledged $2 billion for clean cooking over the next decade and endorsed initiatives like the Africa Women Clean Cooking Support Program launched by President Suluhu Hassan.
Clean cooking initiatives are also receiving support through various channels, including the Climate Action Window of the African Development Fund.
Several African governments have initiated measures to accelerate clean cooking adoption, with Kenya establishing a Clean Cooking Delivery Unit and introducing special electricity tariffs.
The commitment to addressing the clean cooking crisis aligns with the African Development Bank’s priorities, particularly in enhancing the quality of life for Africa’s people.
As Dr. Adesina emphasized, “Providing access to clean cooking is clearly doable in Africa. Let us prioritize saving the lives of women and children; let us make it easier for women to cook in dignity and safety.”
With the Paris Summit poised to galvanize support and drive significant change, there is hope for tangible progress towards ensuring clean cooking access for millions of African women, thereby improving health, economic opportunities, and environmental sustainability across the continent.