Carbon credits cut clean-cookstove costs across Africa despite growing scrutiny

Carbon-credit financing is helping expand access to cleaner cooking technologies in Africa, where nearly 1 billion people still rely on charcoal or firewood. By using anticipated carbon-credit revenue to subsidize equipment, companies can offer efficient biomass stoves and induction cookers at substantially lower upfront prices, while households may also reduce daily fuel costs and exposure to harmful smoke. The International Energy Agency says household air pollution from traditional fuels contributes to about 850,000 deaths annually across the continent and reports $900 million in new clean-cooking commitments. Kenya-based BURN has distributed more than 7.3 million cookstoves across 11 African countries, reflecting growing investor and government interest in the model. However, the sector faces concerns over carbon-credit credibility, verification, regulation, market conditions and the availability of reliable electricity infrastructure.