Photo: A clean cookstove training session in Maharashtra.
An estimated 800 million people in India depend on traditional cookstoves (TCS) that burn solid fuel, mainly fuelwood or coal. Household air pollution caused by TCS is responsible for around 500,000 deaths in India every year. This can be avoided through the adoption of Improved Cook Stoves (ICS). ICS can be on average 60% less polluting than TCS and can be used with a range of traditional fuels which are burnt more efficiently.
Climate Investor One worked with Cleantech to deliver a programme focused on India’s poorer and forest-dependent communities in Maharashtra to raise awareness of the risks and to provide improved access to cleaner cooking solutions.
The programme involved 268 women from 10 rural villages. It focused on empowering them to change traditional cooking methods through capacity building and self-help groups.
Sustainable household energy schools were established and led by women from existing self-help groups to raise awareness and understanding of the impacts on health and the environment associated with traditional cooking methods.
By the end of the programme, 263 women had elected to purchase an ICS and 134 men participated in sessions to learn more about household air pollution and the relevance of clean cooking options.
Interventions like this are vital for achieving progress in addressing UN SDG 7 and for delivering cleaner, healthier and more sustainable energy solutions to rural populations across emerging markets.
