African policymakers and international partners meeting at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference, COP29 on Tuesday highlighted the urgent crisis posed by lack of access to clean cooking, a challenge impacting 1.2 billion people across Africa and leading to millions of premature deaths annually.   

“It is unacceptable that women are still dying because they lack access to clean cooking solutions,” said Tanzania’s Vice President Philip Mpango, speaking on behalf of President Samia Suluhu Hassan at a COP29 side event on Clean Cooking Challenges in Africa. The session underscored the need for innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to deliver safe and sustainable cooking options.

Over 83 percent of people in Sub-Saharan Africa rely on traditional biomass fuels, leading to severe health, environmental, and economic repercussions. Reliance on polluting fuels costs approximately $791.4 billion annually, with health-related impacts accounting for $526.3 billion.

“We must prioritize investments in clean cooking infrastructure and support policies that enable access to affordable and sustainable cooking solutions for all. This is essential not only for health but also for economic development and environmental sustainability,” Mpango urged.