Paris, 14 May 2024 - UNIDO endorsed a multi-stakeholder declaration to accelerate universal access to clean cooking at the high level Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa on 14 May 2024 in Paris. The “Clean Cooking Declaration: Making 2024 the pivotal year for Clean Cooking” calls for increased financing, enabling government policies and multilateral partnerships to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 7 target of universal clean cooking access by 2030. The signatories, which include governments, the private sector, international organizations and civil society, committed to take concrete steps towards advancing the clean cooking agenda, through action on the ground, raising awareness and fostering greater collaboration among key stakeholders.

During his intervention at the Summit, the UNIDO Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director Ciyong Zou said: “It is time for clean cooking to be at the forefront of discussions on climate change, energy, environmental sustainability, health and food systems. Globally, 2.3 billion people still lack access to modern, clean cooking technologies; it is imperative that we unite our efforts to catalyze investments to enhance the affordability and availability of clean cooking fuels and technologies in countries and communities with the largest access gaps.”

By endorsing the declaration, UNIDO will further strengthen its work with countries, development partners, donors and international finance institution to accelerate the adoption and scaling of modern clean cooking technologies and fuels. This brings benefits in terms of job creation, gender equality, health and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, among others. 

UNIDO’s Global Impact Programme for Clean Cooking supports countries to develop multi-sector clean cooking value chains in countries like Tanzania and Madagascar, stimulating private sector investment and effectively channeling much needed resources especially climate financing to nationally designed programmes. Through initiatives such as the Council on Ethanol Clean Cooking (CECC), UNIDO brings together key stakeholders to pursue common action and collaboration towards a sustainable and just energy transition pathway to achieve access to clean cooking.

Furthermore, UNIDO is also working with countries and the private sector to boost investment in innovation in clean cooking fuels and technologies and related value chains to seize the opportunity to create jobs, especially for women and young people.

For further information, please contact:

Jossy Thomas, Industrial Development Officer, UNIDO.