Christine Kagimu, a mother from Uganda, has transitioned from charcoal to solar-powered electric cooking, highlighting a national initiative alongside UNEP aimed at improving health, reducing deforestation, and curbing greenhouse gas emissions. This movement targets over 2 billion people reliant on solid fuels, promoting access to clean cooking technologies and emphasizing their significant environmental benefits.
Christine Kagimu, a mother of six residing in a small town near Kampala, Uganda, utilizes an electric induction cooker powered by two solar panels on her roof, offering a significant upgrade from the costly and polluting charcoal stove she previously relied on. “Charcoal gets very expensive; a bag costs around US$50. The sun is free for everyone… and it’s always going to be there, so reliability is guaranteed,” she states. This transition to electric cooking aligns with Uganda’s national initiative to tackle air pollution, reduce deforestation, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
John Christensen, Director of the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, emphasizes the health and environmental repercussions of cooking methods, stating, “It’s often overlooked but the way we cook food has huge implications not only for our health but the health of the planet.” Despite the convenience enjoyed by many, over 2 billion people continue to rely on solid fuels like charcoal and kerosene, which resulted in an estimated 3.2 million deaths in 2020 due to household air pollution, including over 237,000 children under five.
The burning of non-renewable cooking fuels contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to the loss of approximately 10 million hectares of forest annually. As part of the effort to promote clean cooking, solar-powered cooking technologies will be underscored on International Day of Clean Energy, occurring on January 26. A recent UNEP study reveals that solar cooking can lead to emissions reductions of 2-4 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually per stove.
This potential for significant emissions reduction has sparked advocacy for integrating clean-cooking targets into countries’ climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. The Ugandan government aims for 50 percent of its population to utilize electric cooking by 2040, having included solar-powered technologies in its national climate strategy, supported by UNEP’s NDC Action project.
With over 1.7 million refugees in Uganda, initiatives are being implemented to transition these communities toward clean cooking solutions. The Africa-wide Solar Electric Cooking Partnership for Humanitarian Contexts aims to provide affordable access to solar technologies for 250,000 households by 2030, with 150,000 of those in Uganda. Justine Akumu, Senior Energy Officer at Uganda’s Ministry of Energy, advocates for innovative financing solutions to make solar cooking accessible to rural communities.
Kagimu acquired her electric cooking system through careful savings and flexible credit options, paying half of the US$300 upfront and financing the rest interest-free. She anticipates recovering her investment in under two years, benefiting from long-term savings and decreased time spent managing a charcoal stove. “With the e-cooker, I just have to press a button,” she remarks, highlighting the convenience of the electric solution.
The International Day of Clean Energy aims to raise awareness and promote actions toward an equitable transition to clean energy for the benefit of both people and the planet. The UNEP supports the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement, striving to keep global temperature increases below 2°C while targeting 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels, through its comprehensive Sectoral Solution roadmap across key sectors.
Uganda’s transition toward electric cooking technologies stands to substantially improve public health and environmental sustainability. Through the support of initiatives like the UNEP, and the commitment to facilitating access to clean cooking options, the nation aims to alleviate reliance on polluting fuels. Innovations in financing for rural communities, as exemplified by individuals like Christine Kagimu, underscore the importance of ensuring that advancements in cooking technology are both affordable and accessible.
Original Source: www.unep.org
