Fueling Partnerships: Investing in Clean Cooking for Health, Equality, and Climate in Africa
The 15th AEEP Energy Talks on 26 June 2024 (11:00-13:00 CET/12:00-14:00 EAT) will dive into the topic “.” The webinar will highlight the urgent need for clean cooking solutions in Africa and share insights from Africa-European collaboration on their impacts.
´¡±è±è°ù´Ç³æ¾±³¾²¹³Ù±ð±ô²âÌý, rely on highly polluting cooking fuels used in open fires or basic stoves to prepare their daily meals. Promoting clean cooking solutions in Africa holds significant potential to reduce health risks, enhance gender equality, and achieve economic empowerment. By minimising women and children’s exposure to household air pollution, decreasing the time spent on cooking, and eliminating the need for firewood collection, valuable time can be redirected towards productive economic or educational pursuits, leading to transformative impacts for women, their families, and communities.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that annual capital investments of  are needed to ensure that everyone in Africa has access to clean cooking by 2030. During the , held in May 2024 in Paris, governments, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector pledged to make clean cooking a priority, announcing . Additionally, the European Union announced  for clean cooking activities under the . As part of the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package, the European Union has committed to mobilise up to €150 billion in investments for Africa between 2021 and 2027 to accelerate an inclusive, green, and digital transition. An example is the € 12 million,  initiative, which aims to increase access to clean, efficient, sustainable, and affordable cooking solutions in the region by strengthening enabling frameworks, proposing innovative financing, and promoting scalable business models.
The 15th AEEP Energy Talks will showcase these and other bicontinental programmes and initiatives, aiming to learn from best practices and discuss scaling up efforts for clean cooking solutions in Africa within the framework of Africa-EU partnerships.
To learn more and register, .