Clean Cookstoves Save Lives, Reduce Carbon
“Close to half of the global population, nearly three billion people in developing countries, depend on solid fuels—wood, charcoal, crop waste, dung, and coal—for cooking and heating. It’s a tragic statistic responsible for the deaths of more than 1.6 million people—mostly women and children—every year.”
The choking smoke from indoor wood fires causes respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and emphysema, making it a leading health hazard in developing countries.”
Added to this is the environmental cost: in rural areas, women and children spend hours every day collecting wood for cooking or making charcoal, practices that cause deforestation and soil erosion. The urban poor often spend a part of their income to buy charcoal and wood. Thousands of burning woodstoves causes the hazy pall that hangs over many cities, and adds to the burden of carbon emissions.”
Last September, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a $50 million contribution to the Global Alliance for Clean Stoves for 100 million clean-burning stoves to be provided to low-income households using solid biomass fuels in Africa, Asia and South America.”