COP29: African Union and Tanzania Highlight Clean Cooking as Key Climate Solution

Baku, Azerbaijan – November 12, 2024 — At COP29, a landmark high-level event led by the African Union (AU) and the United Republic of Tanzania has placed clean cooking firmly on the global climate agenda. This significant side event, titled “Addressing Clean Cooking Challenges in Africa: A Call for African Leadership,” underscores the urgent need for sustainable, clean cooking solutions to mitigate climate impacts across the African continent. Held in the Africa Pavilion’s Blue Zone, the event brought together prominent African leaders, policymakers, and international stakeholders.

With around 70% of Africa’s population still dependent on traditional cooking methods, clean cooking has become a priority for both economic growth and climate action. The AU’s African Clean Cooking Program (ACCP) and Tanzania’s Women Clean Cooking Support Programme (AWCCSP) led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan highlight the continent’s leadership in tackling energy, health, and environmental challenges.

African Leadership and the Clean Cooking Agenda
Africa has become a leading force in the climate dialogue, with the ACCP and AWCCSP spearheading initiatives that emphasize gender-inclusive, scalable clean cooking solutions. As African nations like Ghana and Kenya make strides in adopting clean technologies such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and improved cookstoves, this event exemplifies the continent’s commitment to reducing emissions, enhancing health, and fostering economic resilience.

For example, Ghana has seen a 36% increase in LPG adoption, with 30% of households transitioning to energy-efficient cookstoves. Kenya’s clean cooking drive has enabled 2.4 million people to access affordable LPG solutions, further showcasing Africa’s leadership in sustainable energy solutions.

Clean Cooking: A Crucial Climate and Development Solution
The shift to clean cooking is poised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1.5 gigatons by 2030, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (affordable and clean energy) and contributing to health (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), and climate action (SDG 13). By integrating clean cooking into national climate strategies, African countries are enhancing their climate resilience while supporting global emissions reduction efforts.

Launch of “Sustainable Scaling: Meeting the Clean Cooking Challenge in Africa”
During the event, the AU Energy Commission (AFREC) launched the report “Sustainable Scaling: Meeting the Clean Cooking Challenge in Africa,” which outlines the policy frameworks, financing models, and innovative technologies essential for scaling clean cooking. The publication calls for stronger political commitments and public-private partnerships to unlock the investment needed to achieve universal clean cooking access by 2030.

A Platform for Partnerships and Global Engagement
This event at COP29 offers African leaders an invaluable platform to engage with global partners, underscoring clean cooking as a cornerstone of Africa’s climate agenda. Through initiatives like AWCCSP, African nations are not only addressing the clean cooking crisis but are also elevating it to a central climate and development priority.