Shell renews support for global cookstove alliance with $6 million donation
Shell today pledged an additional $6 million to the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, which aims to save lives and protect the environment through the use of improved cookstoves and fuels. This follows $6 million of Shell funding announced in 2010, and the secondment of a Shell employee to the Alliance. Shell is the single largest private-sector contributor to the Alliance.
Globally, nearly three billion people still cook food and warm their homes using solid fuels, such as wood or charcoal. It is estimated that daily exposure to smoke from open fires and basic cookstoves contributes to four million premature deaths each year, with women and children most affected. Furthermore, the time spent searching for wood and other fuels takes millions of women and children away from earning a living or attending school, and inefficient cookstoves contribute increased emissions of greenhouse gases and black carbon, or soot, to the atmosphere.
Encouraging the use of specially designed clean cookstoves, which can significantly reduce fuel use, cooking time and emissions, is an internationally recognised solution.
“Nearly half of the world’s population do not have access to modern energy that is safe, reliable and affordable,” said Hugh Mitchell, Chief Human Resources and Corporate Officer, Royal Dutch Shell plc. “Cooperation among business, government and society is essential to addressing such a large-scale challenge.
“The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is a strong example of how collaboration across sectors can help bring modern energy solutions to the developing world. Shell is pleased to continue its support for the Alliance to encourage the widespread adoption of cleaner, more efficient cookstoves and fuels.”
The Alliance is a public-private partnership founded in 2010 by the United Nations Foundation. Shell became a founding partner to make a positive impact on a global energy-related challenge.
The Alliance aims to switch 100 million homes to clean and efficient stoves and fuels by 2020. It targets the market barriers that impede the production, deployment and use of clean cookstoves in developing countries.
Shell’s $6 million donation announced today will be phased, and brings Shell’s total donation to the Alliance to $12 million during the period of 2011-2016.