Smoke-free kitchen project launched in Nepal
The Alliance officially launched a comprehensive set of activities to promote smoke-free kitchen communities in Nepal, where household air pollution (HAP) accounts for over 18,000 premature deaths each year.
The project, ‘Maximizing the Health Benefits of Clean Household Energy in Urban Nepal: A Demonstration Project’ is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will focus on estimating health benefits of reducing HAP for household members and the broader community. The project will also inform and motivate future efforts to promote smoke-free household communities in urban Nepal.
45 key stakeholders gathered for a workshop in Kathmandu in August for the official launch of the project. Participants discussed strategies to accelerate and increase the penetration of cleaner energy devices in urban Nepalese homes. Leaders Nepal, Fast Track Carbon, and Nielsen Nepal Pvt Limited presented an overview of the baseline study, market assessment, and consumer preference study currently underway. Detailed results of these studies will be presented at the Alliance’s Clean Cooking Forum in October. Additional work to be launched includes a more intensive focus on how HAP contributes to ambient air pollution, and development of standards for induction stoves.
Market research and strengthening activities will also be undertaken to inform future behavior change, market development, and policy efforts that will support the sustained and widespread access to and adoption of clean household energy for maximum impact. Complementary efforts are also being led by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and the World Health Organization, including via the Urban Health Initiative of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.