Nairobi, Kenya — In a significant stride towards sustainable and healthier living, Kenya has spearheaded a $900 million commitment to expand clean cooking technologies across Africa. This pledge, which brings the total commitments since the Africa Clean Cooking Summit in 2024 to over $3. 1 billion, aims to replace traditional charcoal and firewood with cleaner fuels and modern cooking technologies.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has been instrumental in this initiative, emphasizing the need to bolster global cooking fuel supply chains, particularly in light of disruptions to LPG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year. Since 2024, African governments have introduced over 120 new clean cooking policies, reflecting a substantial shift towards more sustainable and health-conscious practices.
The IEA’s report reveals that around 740 million dollars from previous pledges have already been allocated across 22 African countries, demonstrating tangible progress in this area. Kenyan President William Ruto highlighted the importance of matching ambition with investment to achieve universal access to clean cooking, a sentiment echoed by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
The new funding will be instrumental in expanding access to cleaner cooking fuels, stoves, and related infrastructure across Africa. This move is expected to significantly reduce reliance on polluting fuels, which contribute to pollution and health issues. With nearly one billion people in Africa still relying on these fuels, the transition to cleaner cooking technologies is seen as a crucial step towards improving health outcomes and reducing environmental impact.
The initiative, which was discussed during a high — level virtual meeting attended by leaders including Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, U. S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, African Union Commissioner for Energy and Infrastructure Lerato Mataboge, and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, reflects a growing commitment to addressing the clean cooking challenge in Africa.
As the continent prepares for the second major Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa, the $900 million pledge marks a significant step forward in providing clean cooking solutions to millions.
The summit is expected to build on the progress made and chart a course for future action in this critical area, contributing to Africa’s broader environmental and energy security objectives.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: Rédaction Africanews
