Nearly 3 billion people in the developing world cook food and heat their homes with traditional cookstoves or open fires. 2 million premature deaths occur every year due to smoke exposure from these methods. Women and children are the most affected
This is from the
Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is an aid organization with an express sole purpose: To foster the adoption of 100 million clean cookstoves by the year 2020.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that exposure to smoke from the simple act of cooking is the fifth worst risk factor for disease in developing countries, and causes almost two million premature deaths per year – exceeding deaths attributable to malaria or tuberculosis.
This is not just a worldwide health concern, it is an environmental one as well. These open stoves generally burn biomass, wood,for example, which produces black carbon and methane which help contribute to global warming. Additionally the use of these biofuels can lead to increased deforestation.
This video just highlights some of the facts:
Nearly 3 billion use polluting, inefficient stoves or open flames to cook their food
Exposure to cookstove smoke kills nearly 2 million people every year.
Girls spend as many as 20 hours a week collecting fuel. (Less time for education).
Exposure to cookstove smoke doubles a child's risk of contracting pneumonia.
Women and girls are at risk of violence while gathering fuel.
Clean cookstoves save families fuel and money.
Stove users can pay for their new stove with the money they save on fuel.
A clean cookstove can reduce carbon emission by up to 3 tons per year.
Stove companies create local jobs and improve livelihoods.
This video is an example of how clean stoves can provide local benefits in a variety of ways.
I highly encourage people to look through the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves to see the importance of this initiatives to improve the lives of billions around the globe.