By Abbas Nazil
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a new report titled Universal Access to Clean Cooking in Africa: Progress Update and Roadmap to Implementation, highlighting the urgent need to expand access to clean cooking solutions across the continent.
While the global number of people without clean cooking access has halved since 2010, sub-Saharan Africa remains the only region where the figure continues to rise.
This persistent gap threatens health, the environment, and economic development, leading to an estimated 815,000 premature deaths each year due to indoor air pollution and contributing to widespread deforestation.
The report provides an updated assessment of progress and challenges while tracking the execution of USD 2.2 billion in public and private sector commitments announced during the 2024 Summit on Clean Cooking for Africa.
The summit, co-hosted by the IEA alongside the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Prime Minister of Norway, and the President of the African Development Bank Group, marked a major turning point in mobilizing global attention and financing for clean cooking access.
A key highlight of the report is the introduction of the Accelerating Clean Cooking and Electricity Services Scenario (ACCESS), which outlines a pathway for African nations to replicate the most successful global examples of expanding clean cooking and energy access.
This scenario builds on comprehensive mapping of clean cooking infrastructure, fuel availability, and affordability across all African regions.
The IEA emphasizes that universal access to clean cooking is central to Africa’s sustainable growth and environmental protection.
The new roadmap marks the latest milestone in the IEA’s 25-year effort to track energy access and promote clean energy solutions as part of the global energy transition.
The agency stated that progress tracking will continue to ensure accountability and sustained momentum across the continent.