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A geospatial approach to understanding clean cooking challenges in sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Babak Khavari

    (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

  • Camilo Ramirez

    (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

  • Marc Jeuland

    (Duke University)

  • Francesco Fuso Nerini

    (KTH Royal Institute of Technology
    KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Universal clean cooking is a key target under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, with implications for several other SDGs, such as good health, gender equality and climate. Yet, 2.4 billion people globally still lack access to clean cooking. The situation is especially dire in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where only 17% use clean options. We develop OnStove, an open-source spatial tool comparing the relative potential of different cookstoves on the basis of their costs and benefits, and apply it to SSA. Our results suggest a severe market failure as the currently most used solution, traditional biomass, produces the lowest social net-benefits nearly everywhere in SSA. Correcting this failure, which stems from multiple market and behavioural obstacles, would deliver significant health, time and emission benefits but requires identification and promotion of policies to transform cooking energy use. Spatial mapping offers a more nuanced understanding of the costs needed to deliver cleaner cooking transitions than was previously possible, which is useful for improved targeting of intervention strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Babak Khavari & Camilo Ramirez & Marc Jeuland & Francesco Fuso Nerini, 2023. "A geospatial approach to understanding clean cooking challenges in sub-Saharan Africa," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(4), pages 447-457, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:6:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1038_s41893-022-01039-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-022-01039-8
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    1. Naeem, Muhammad Abubakr & Appiah, Michael & Taden, John & Amoasi, Richard & Gyamfi, Bright Akwasi, 2023. "Transitioning to clean energy: Assessing the impact of renewable energy, bio-capacity and access to clean fuel on carbon emissions in OECD economies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PA).
    2. Murshed, Muntasir, 2023. "The relevance of reducing income inequality for eliminating urban-rural divide in clean cooking fuel accessibility: Evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).

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