CCA Partners with Eight Carbon Project Developers to Pilot Clean Cooking Code of Conduct
WASHINGTON DC, 30 May 2025 – The Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) is partnering with eight clean cooking project developers to test run the Clean Cooking Code of Conduct – a tool designed to strengthen the credibility of the clean cooking carbon sector. These organizations are: African Clean Energy (ACE), Bridge Carbon, BURN, DelAgua, Eni, Korea Carbon Management, M-GAS, and The African Stove Company (TASC).
The Clean Cooking Code of Conduct outlines the actions that project developers must take to fulfil the Principles for Responsible Carbon Finance – a set of values developed collaboratively in 2023 and 2024 by CCA and the Responsible Carbon Finance Advisory Board, with input from hundreds of organizations across the clean cooking sector. CCA shared the interim Code of Conduct for public comment in Q1 of 2025 and invited project developers to put it into practice. Now, eight organizations will test and refine the Code of Conduct, ensuring that it is both feasible and effective across a wide range of contexts, including organizations of varying size, location, business model, type of fuel and stove, and using a variety of carbon credit verification methodologies.
“This Code of Conduct is a marker of technical excellence and ethical accountability, creating a foundation of trust and confidence for buyers, investors, and other participants in clean cooking carbon projects,” said Dymphna van der Lans, CEO of CCA. “The organizations piloting the Code of Conduct are not only showing real leadership when it comes to responsible carbon finance, but also directly contributing to the high standards needed for this market to grow sustainably.”
Project developers who adhere to the Code of Conduct commit to publicly disclosing their methodologies for calculating emission reductions, ensuring transparency on social and environmental benefits, and maintaining high standards of ethical conduct and governance. In practice, this entails completing a bespoke reporting template that shows how an organization is meeting the Code of Conduct.
“Clean cooking companies like BURN use carbon finance to bring health, time, gender, and financial benefits to communities. The Code of Conduct is an opportunity to record and codify best practice to raise standards across the sector and bring confidence to buyers,” said Molly Brown, Head of Carbon Strategy at BURN.
The Code of Conduct is designed to enhance existing integrity frameworks such as the ICVCM’s Core Carbon Principles, carbon standards, and the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance. By providing guidance specifically tailored to the clean cooking sector, the Code of Conduct addresses ethical practices and governance standards that may be too granular for broader frameworks to cover.
“Projects that are developed according to the Code of Conduct prioritize integrity and value the trust of all stakeholders,” said Emanuele Banfi, Head of Carbon Offset Portfolio Management at Eni. “This approach will strengthen the quality of these projects and their long-term relationships with hosting governments and communities.”
“There’s an added layer of buyer confidence that comes with subscribing to this Code of Conduct because it focuses not only on verified emissions reductions, but on achieving these gains through ethical practices,” said Donee Alexander, Chief Carbon Officer at Bridge Carbon.
The piloting phase is expected to last through December 2025. CCA will compile all feedback from project developers and incorporate it into the final Code of Conduct.
