The International Energy Agency, the African Development Bank and many other global partners have mobilised $2.2 billion out of the $4 billion needed annually to provide clean cooking alternatives to populations in Africa.
IEA reports detailed that polluting and unsafe cooking methods cause the premature deaths of approximately 600,000 women and children every year.
The summit on Clean Cooking in Africa, held in Paris from 14-15 May 2024, and co-chaired by President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol, and African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina.
The summit resulted in $2.2 billion in pledges from governments and private sector to provide clean cooking alternatives to populations across Africa.
The African Development Bank Group, made a significant commitment to address the clean cooking crisis in Africa, pledging $2 billion over next 10 years to promote safe alternatives to cooking with charcoal, wood, and biomass.
French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to invest €100 million over 5 years in clean cooking methods for Africa.
President Macron tweeted this pledge during the Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa held in Paris.
“France pledges to invest €100 million over five years in clean cooking methods and will mobilise even more through the Paris Pact for People and the Planet and through Finance in Common.”
In his tweet, President Macron said the African Development Bank Group was one of the partners with whom the French government is collaborating to address the clean cooking issue.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania said: “Ensuring 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.
This Summit underscores our commitment to advancing this agenda and providing a framework towards universal adoption of clean cooking fuels and technologies across the continent.”
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway said: “Improving access to clean cooking is about improving health outcomes, reducing emissions, and creating opportunities for economic growth. With today’s Summit, we have mobilized much needed support, and built a diverse partnership that together can make a real difference.
Norway is a steadfast supporter of clean cooking, and I was pleased to announce today that we are committed to investing approximately USD 50 million in this important cause.”
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said: “This summit has delivered an emphatic commitment to an issue that has been ignored by too many people, for too long. We still have a long way to go, but the outcome of this summit, USD 2.2 billion committed, can help support fundamental rights such as health, gender equality and education while also reducing emissions and restoring forests.
And the commitments announced today go beyond the money alone – they set out concrete steps on how governments, institutions and the private sector can work together to solve the clean cooking challenge this decade. I’m proud of the IEA’s decades of work on this issue and of its leadership in initiating this groundbreaking summit.
Going forwards, we will rigorously track the commitments announced today to make sure they’re met on time and in full – and continue to do our utmost to bring greater resources and attention to this critical issue.”