Global leaders rally to fund clean cooking solutions across Africa

During the UN General Assembly, the International Energy Agency, supported by Norway and Kenya, convened a landmark summit on clean cooking, drawing participation from 60 countries. Speakers emphasized that reliance on charcoal, firewood, coal and kerosene fuels causes around 2.5 million premature deaths annually, with women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa bearing the brunt. The Paris-based meeting secured more than $2.2 billion in fresh financing, and the IEA reports that over one-third of these funds are already active in projects across 28 African nations, alongside the adoption of 120 new clean-cooking policies.

Modelling suggests that, despite short-term emission rises from LPG and electric appliances, the overall shift could deliver a net reduction of about 1.5 gigatons CO₂-equivalent by 2030, comparable to global aviation and shipping emissions. The agency also flagged the need for high-quality carbon-credit schemes to fund the transition, noting past over-statements of climate benefits. Fatih Birol argued that modest European investment could resolve the crisis, estimating $4 billion per year would achieve universal clean-cooking access in Africa by 2030.