Universal Access to Clean Cooking in Africa: Progress Update & Roadmap to Implementation
Background information
The IEA is set to publish a major new report assessing progress to date following the landmark Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa in May 2024 and providing a roadmap for universal access on the continent. The publication will offer an updated picture of where things stand, where efforts are gaining ground and where urgent action is still needed to turn pledges into progress. This includes tracking the implementation of the $2.2 billion in public and private commitments made at the 2024 Summit.
The report will be launched at a livestreamed event at 11:00 CEST on Friday 18 July, led by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol with special guests African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Lerato Mataboge and Special Representative of the President of Tanzania for Clean Cooking Jacqueline Kawishe. IEA Director of Sustainability, Technologies and Outlooks Laura Cozzi will present the key findings of the report.
Today, four in five households in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to clean cooking solutions, relying on traditional fuels like wood and charcoal. The lack of clean cooking remains one of the most persistent, and yet solvable, barriers to better health and economic opportunity. These practices contribute to more than 800,000 premature deaths across the region each year and place a heavy burden on women and children, who often spend up to five hours a day collecting fuel and preparing meals.
As attention to clean cooking grows on the global stage, from G7 and G20 commitments to the upcoming COP30 climate conference in Brazil, the new IEA analysis will offer a vital evidence base for decision makers at a pivotal moment.