A new joint report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has identified clean cooking as one of the world’s most powerful yet overlooked climate solutions.
Titled Advancing Clean Cooking for Climate Action, the report argues that transforming how 2.3 billion people cook could cut up to two gigatons of CO₂ emissions annually, save millions of lives, and empower women across developing nations. It highlights that household air pollution from traditional fuels such as wood, charcoal, and kerosene causes 2.3 million premature deaths every year and drives deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite its potential, the report notes that less than one percent of global climate finance is directed toward clean cooking initiatives. By shifting to modern cooking technologies—such as electric, biogas, and ethanol systems powered by renewables—countries could achieve major progress toward their climate and development goals.
The report also emphasizes the gender dimension of the issue, noting that women and girls bear the brunt of health risks and unpaid labor associated with firewood collection. Successful examples like Kenya’s women-led biogas initiatives demonstrate how clean cooking can reduce emissions, lower household expenses, and create new livelihood opportunities.
To accelerate change, the report calls for policy integration, inclusion of clean cooking in national climate plans (NDCs), and expansion of carbon markets to finance clean energy transitions. It suggests that credible carbon credit projects could generate up to USD 15 billion annually for clean cooking technologies.
In its conclusion, the report urges governments and global investors to recognize clean cooking as a central pillar of climate action rather than a peripheral welfare issue. It envisions a Global Clean Cooking for Climate Platform to coordinate international efforts, promote innovation, and support developing nations in scaling sustainable cooking solutions.
The authors underline that fighting climate change begins at home literally. Clean cooking, they write, is not only about energy efficiency but about justice, equity, and the right to breathe clean air while safeguarding the planet’s future.