This climate project distributes improved cookstoves that require less firewood and emit less harmful smoke. This saves households time and money and reduces the pressure on national forests.

Cooking with charcoal drives deforestation and causes disease

Deforestation is a major problem in Zambia. Between 2001 and 2020, the country lost 2.2 million hectares of tree cover (Climate Risk Profile Zambia). One of the main drivers of deforestation is because large quantities of charcoal are needed for cooking, which also leads to indoor air pollution. Women and children in particular, who spend a lot of time at home exposed to smoke, develop serious illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

people in zambia carrying improved cookstove

Improved cookstoves save time, money, and emissions while reducing air pollution

This climate project distributes around 45,000 improved cookstoves annually to Zambian households. These cookstoves burn biomass fuels more efficiently, reducing greenhouse gas and particulate matter emissions. Compared to traditional cooking methods, improved cookstoves reduce fuel consumption by around 70% and indoor air pollution by around 80%.

Lower firewood consumption reduces the pressure on national forests and saves households money and time in buying and collecting wood. The distributed cookstoves avoid around 429,490 tonnes of carbon emissions per year, and, in addition, the project creates jobs and supports the local economy.

woman in zambia using an improved cookstove
Carbon reduced

Estimated annual emission reductions

429,495 t CO2

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Impact

45,000 households receive an improved cookstove each year

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Project location

Countrywide, Zambia

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The project's impact

Maureen Mweleka

Maureen Mweleka, project participant, Zambia

“The new stove has improved my life. It saves me time to do other activities due to its fast cooking, and it has lessened my burden of walking long distances to cut down trees for cooking, as I now collect small pieces of wood in my yard.”

Catherine

Catherine, project participant, Zambia

“The advantages of using the stove are that cooking is clean, it is fast to cook which saves my time to do other activities, and it does not produce smoke.”

The project contributes to the following United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

sdg 1 no poverty

No poverty

Households will have access to improved technology that saves them money.

SDG 3

Good health and well-being

Households suffer from fewer health hazards due to lower smoke emissions.

SDG 5

Gender equality

The everyday life for women is improved as time is saved on cooking and collecting firewood.

SDG 7

Affordable and clean energy

The project distributes efficient, modern cooking technology and provides access to affordable and reliable energy services.

sdg 8 decent work

Decent work and economic growth

The project creates employment in the region, supporting local economic growth.

sdg 12 responsible consumption

Responsible consumption and production

The improved cookstoves save firewood and thus help to protect the local forests.

sdg 13 climate action

Climate action

In total, the project avoids approximately 429,490 tonnes of CO2 annually, according to the validated project design.

Are you interested in financing this project? We are looking forward to your request!

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