Samia courts world leaders for clean cooking initiative

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday engaged global leaders in the launch of the African Women Clean Cooking Support Programmes (AWCCSP), a critical initiative in addressing the consumption of cooking energy.

Aiming to ensure accessibility and affordability of alternative cooking energy, President Hassan, the programme’s champion, believes that the project would reduce the negative effects of indoor air pollution on the health of women.

In her welcome remarks, she told delegates that clean cooking energy was critical to mitigating the impacts of climate change.

She outlined an alarming statistic that approximately 80 percent of households in sub-Saharan Africa rely on wood-based biomass energy for cooking, contributing to deforestation and environmental degradation.

President Hassan, committed to showcasing Africa’s dedication to mitigation, launched the programme, emphasising the need for collective action.

Despite Africa’s relatively low emission levels, she stressed the importance of leading by example and encouraging others to follow the suit.

She pointed out that the lack of access to clean cooking energy excessively affects women and girls. From the risks associated with gathering firewood to the negative impacts of indoor air pollution, women face numerous challenges.

As a champion of gender equality, President Hassan emphasised the programme’s core objective as to empowering women and girls through the adoption of clean cooking fuels and technologies.

“This, in turn, will reduce the negative impacts of indoor air pollution on women’s health, empower African women economically, and drastically reduce emissions from biomass energy,” she noted.

The AWCCSP aims to promote clean cooking technologies and advocate policy changes on the continent.

This, she said, includes training women in the use of clean cooking technologies, entrepreneurship and leadership, as well as fostering research and development of affordable and efficient clean cooking expertise.

The Head of State highlighted the potential impact of achieving access to clean cooking, estimating a remarkable reduction of 1.5 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030, with 900 million metric tonnes originating from Africa.

She underlined that the achievement would not only benefit the environment but also enhance women’s lives by freeing up time for education, income generation, and social participation.

To further support the initiative, President Hassan announced plans to collaborate with the private sector in establishing a commercial supply chain for clean cooking alternatives, including improved stoves, and facilitating access to electricity in rural areas.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said, while appreciating the initiative by President Hassan, that clean cooking energy was an agent of development with significant benefits for public health, gender equality, and the environment. “We have to embark on a journey of real access to renewable energy, and as we transit, obviously we need to look at the new technologies. This session is timely because it raises our awareness and consciousness,” he said.

The African Development Bank’s (ADB) President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, commended President Hassan for her commitment to supporting women’s health and addressing climate change.

He stressed the urgency of providing access to clean cooking solutions, citing the significant economic cost of women’s time spent searching for firewood.

“Therefore, providing access to clean cooking is something we have to do; we have no choice. It is clearly doable in Africa,” he said.

“To solve this challenge, we must commit decisively to achieving 100 percent access to clean cooking solutions for women in sub-Saharan Africa,” Dr Adesina emphasised. He called for increased government investment, suggesting that at least five percent of the current $70 billion annual energy investment should be allocated to clean cooking initiatives.

The initiative received support from the Minister for Women Affairs and Community Small and Medium Enterprises Development in Zimbabwe, Ms Monica Musavangwa, who commended President Hassan’s integration of gender-responsive policies into climate initiatives.

“We must seize the moment and commit to a future where gender equality and climate justice are fundamental guiding principles,” she said. Representing Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the Minister for Environment, Dr Jean Mujawamaria, highlighted the impact of empowering women in addressing climate challenges.

She called for the initiative’s support, emphasising that it would contribute to a sustainable and resilient future.

The United Nations Capital Development Fund’s (UNCDF) Local Transformative Finance director and head, Mr David Jackson, stressed the significance of the initiative in improving people’s health.

He applauded President Hassan for addressing the time constraints the women and girls were facing in collecting firewood, noting that the initiative would contribute to the global empowerment of women.

“I believe that this initiative will free up space in the lives of women and girls and enable them to progress. I applaud President Hassan for this initiative,” he said.

President Hassan concluded the event with a commitment to champion the AWCCSP alongside fellow heads of state, governments, and partners, expressing confidence in leveraging support from the private sector to achieve the programme’s objectives.