Expansion of Clean Cooking in Africa: The Hard Facts
Africa Sub-Saharan is on track to register its largest annual expansion in access to clean cooking in 2026, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). However, population growth continues to outpace these gains, leaving over 1 billion people without access to clean cooking. The region is home to the world's largest population still reliant on wood, coal, and kerosene for daily cooking, according to the IEA.
The report "Clean Cooking in Africa 2026: Progress Report" estimates that around 15 million people gained access to clean cooking in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025, about 35% above the average annual gains recorded over the previous five years. If confirmed, this would be the largest annual increase ever recorded. Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Nigeria were the countries that stood out the most in this regard.
Why It Matters: The Real Stakes and Who Is Affected
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that household air pollution, much of which is generated by these polluting fuels, is linked to around 2.9 million premature deaths annually, with women and children bearing the greatest burden. Access to clean cooking is not just a health issue, but also a matter of gender equality, education, and economic development.
The expansion of clean cooking in Africa has significant implications for public health, the economy, and the environment. Furthermore, the use of clean fuels can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, contributing to the mitigation of climate change.
The Mechanism/Science Behind It: Explaining Clean Cooking
Clean cooking refers to the use of technologies and fuels that minimize the emission of pollutants and greenhouse gases. This includes the use of gas stoves, biogas stoves, solar stoves, and other devices that utilize renewable energy sources or clean fuels.
The science behind clean cooking involves understanding combustion processes, pollutant chemistry, and air flow physics. Additionally, the implementation of clean cooking solutions requires an interdisciplinary approach, involving engineering, economics, sociology, and politics.
Bigger Picture: How This Compares to Similar Events in the Past
The expansion of clean cooking in Africa is not an isolated phenomenon. In other parts of the world, especially in Asia, there have been significant efforts to promote clean cooking and reduce dependence on polluting fuels.
However, Sub-Saharan Africa faces unique challenges, including a lack of infrastructure, poverty, and limited access to clean cooking technologies. Therefore, it is essential to develop solutions tailored to local needs and contexts.
What Happens Next: Short-Term Implications and Open Questions
The next steps include confirming the preliminary 2025 numbers through household surveys, which may take several years. Additionally, it is crucial to continue investing in infrastructure, technologies, and policies that support the expansion of clean cooking.
Open questions include how to ensure the long-term sustainability of these efforts, how to address gender and socioeconomic inequalities in access to clean cooking, and how to integrate clean cooking into broader development and climate change mitigation strategies.
Conclusions and Future Challenges
The expansion of clean cooking in Africa is a step in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go. It is essential to maintain momentum, address persistent challenges, and ensure that access to clean cooking becomes a reality for all, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
Source / Reference
This article was originally published on Mongabay.