Experts discuss the challenges of cooking with polluting fuels and stoves, health issues caused by household air pollution, sustainable solutions like bioethanol cook stoves in Kenya and solar cookers, as well as the difficulties in implementing cleaner cooking solutions and addressing the issues of unsustainable wood stoves and solar cooking.
Over 2 billion people use polluting stoves, causing severe health issues and 3.2 million deaths annually.
Affordability and cultural barriers hinder the adoption of cleaner cooking methods, requiring international support and financial assistance.
Deep dives
The Health and Environmental Impact of Polluting Fuels and Stoves
An estimated 2.3 billion people worldwide, more than a third of the population, use polluting fuels and stoves for cooking, leading to health issues and approximately 3 million deaths annually. Efforts to promote cleaner cooking methods have been made, but as many as 100 million people have been forced to revert to traditional cooking methods due to economic factors. The need for international support and financial assistance to make cleaner stoves and fuels accessible is crucial.
Challenges in Switching to Cleaner Cooking Methods
While there have been various initiatives to promote cleaner cooking methods, affordability remains a significant barrier. Clean cooking options, such as solar cookers and bioethanol stoves, can be expensive, making them inaccessible for many low-income households. Additionally, traditions, cultural practices, and logistic issues hinder the widespread adoption of these alternative cooking methods.
The Transformative Impact of Cleaner Cooking
Despite the challenges, cleaner cooking methods have the potential to transform lives by reducing indoor pollution, improving health outcomes, and empowering individuals. Adopting cleaner cooking methods can alleviate respiratory diseases, enhance household efficiency, and improve overall quality of life. However, widespread implementation requires commitment from governments, international organizations, and financial institutions, along with distribution infrastructure to make clean stoves and fuels readily available.
It’s estimated that more than 2 billion people use polluting stoves - with severe consequences for their health.
The World Health Organisation says 3.2 million people die each year as a result of the household air pollution they cause.
Ruth Alexander finds out why this problem – which also harms the environment – is so difficult to solve.
She speaks to Dr Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency in Paris; Sophie Odupoy from Koko Networks in Kenya; Naramath Lucas Kariongi from the Rural Communities Support Organisation in Tanzania; and Dr Mike Clifford of Nottingham University’s engineering department in the UK.
If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk.
Producers: Hannah Bewley and Rumella Dasgupta.
(Picture: a clay stove with a wood fire lit. Credit: BBC)
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