Household air pollution has been described as a silent tsunami during the ongoing Clean Cooking Forum 2019 taking place in Nairobi.
World Health Organization says 3 billion people globally still cook and heat their homes using polluting fuels such as kerosene, wood, and dung, while over 4 million people die every year prematurely of indoor pollution. WHO Air pollution
Current statistics- Clean Cooking Forum
“Clean cooking solutions are not about cooking alone; it is a health issue,” said one of the speakers at the forum.
Going by the statistics, a large number of people are dying within the confines of their homes. Urgent action is needed. Clean cooking energy solutions should be introduced and made accessible and affordable to all in order to meet SDG 7 “Affordable and clean energy.”
Governments bear the greatest responsibility to make this happen. Subsidize, avail appliances and create policies.
Most people don’t realize the extent of damage the smoke has on their health. When carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide accumulate in the room, it can cause suffocation or death. Often, people contract respiratory diseases.
What is lacking is education on the dangers of the polluting cooking systems. While urgent action is needed, awareness should be the first step. We may have the technology, but the citizens lack the willingness to change because of the lack of knowledge about clean cooking energy solutions.
