From firewood to freedom: Clean cooking as a catalyst for gender equality and development

In many homes across the globe particularly in Africa, the simple act of preparing a meal comes at a heavy price. Traditional cooking methods, which often rely on open fires and inefficient stoves fueled by firewood or charcoal, emit harmful smoke that endangers the health, depletes natural resources, and contributes negatively to climate change. 

These practices disproportionately affect women and girls, who bear the brunt of household cooking duties, sacrificing their time, health, and economic opportunities just to put a meal on the table for the family.

Clean cooking technologies offer a promising solution not only to a healthier environment but also a path to gender equality, economic empowerment, and sustainable development. With over 2.4 billion people globally still lacking access to clean cooking solutions, achieving universal adoption is both a challenge and an opportunity to address interconnected global goals, including health, climate resilience, and poverty reduction. [1]

Although efforts are being made to address the challenges of traditional cooking methods and promote clean cooking, these efforts remain slow and uneven across the board.

Clean cooking was recognized as one of the pivotal 2030 Breakthroughs aimed towards achieving net zero emission at COP27. A target of at least $10 billion was set for investment into championing the clean cooking cause by governmental and private stakeholders annually.[2]

According to a World Bank study, the lack of universal clean cooking costs $2.4 Trillion in loss each year. This figure underscores the urgent need to scale up efforts in promoting clean cooking initiatives. The study also highlighted that public health impact and loss of productivity accounted for USD$1.4 trillion and $0.8 trillion respectively.[3]

These glaring facts highlight the critical need to prioritize and promote clean cooking, which will ultimately reduce the impact of these losses and help empower women.

Empowering women is key to achieving the 2030 Breakthroughs targets for clean cooking. Women and girls often spend hours collecting firewood, which is a time-consuming and arduous task. Clean cooking technologies can reduce this burden, freeing up time for girls to focus on their education, skill development and income-generating activities for women.

Targeted financial services, such as instalment-based payment or pay-as-you-go systems, make clean cooking solutions affordable for women from low-income backgrounds. When these financing models are accessible, they can more easily acquire and sustain the use of clean cooking technologies, fostering a sense of ownership and long-term empowerment. [4]

Financially backing women entrepreneurs in clean cooking innovation encourages creative solutions which are more suited to their needs. Women-led companies can design products that are more affordable, accessible, and efficient for their communities, as such these women are better able to respond to challenges faced by other women.

Promoting universal access to clean cooking solutions goes beyond achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). It plays a crucial role in advancing other Sustainable Development Goals. Clean cooking reduces indoor air pollution, promoting better health and well-being [SDG 3]. It minimizes emissions from traditional cooking methods, supports climate action [SDG 13], and helps protect forests by reducing the need for firewood, and safeguarding life on land [SDG 15]. [5]

The scale of achieving universal clean cooking is immense and cannot be overlooked. It is essential to ensure that clean cooking solutions are designed to meet the diverse needs of users, especially in rural areas and among low- and middle-income populations. Failing to do so risks a return to traditional cooking methods, undermining progress toward the 2030 Breakthrough targets and Net-Zero Emissions. Such setbacks would not only hinder global goals but also waste the significant resources and efforts already invested in this critical mission.

REFERENCES

[1] Women & Clean Cooking | Clean Cooking Alliance

[2] Clean cooking named as a critical “Breakthrough” to halve emissions by 2030 - Climate Champions

[3] Unlocking Clean Cooking Pathways – World Bank Document

[4] Clean cooking - Practical Action

[5] The Role of Clean Cooking in Sustainable Development

ABOUT WRITER

Yahaya Muiz Wunnam is a highly motivated and adaptable electrical engineer driven to effect positive change and personal growth. Known for curiosity and a passion for continuous learning. He is a power systems and sustainable technology enthusiast with working experience as an electrical engineer at Huawei Technologies, Ghana.