Around the world nearly three billion people burn solid fuels in open fires or inefficient stoves for daily cooking and heating (Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, 2015). Also in the Ejisu-Juaben District people are relying on inefficient cookstoves and fuels. That leads to a wide variety of environmental problems, including deforestation, air pollution and climate change.
Wood is the cheapest option for fuel and it is often collected for free in the nearby forests. Reliance on wood fuel for cooking has led to pressure on local forests and natural resources. The Ejisu-Juaben District is one the Ghanaian areas where massive deforestation occurs (Ministry of Food and Agriculture Ghana, 2015). The forests are even gradually changing into savannas. Furthermore the unsustainable collection of wood for the cookstoves can contribute to mudslides, loss of watershed, desertification and devastation to local biodiversity (Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, 2015). It also places pressures on regional food security and agricultural productivity.
Burning solid fuels releases toxic pollutants into the air (Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, 2015). The household air pollution is often far exceeding the guidelines of the World Health Organization. This is not only a problem in the houses, but the fine particulate emissions from household cooking with solid fuels are a major source of ambient pollution as well. This is the cause of 12% of the ambient air pollution globally. This has a major impact on the environment and deforestation makes it even worse, because forests cannot uptake carbon anymore.
Short-lived climate pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, methane and black carbon, are some of the most important contributors to global climate change (Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, 2015). Burning solid fuels releases emissions of these contributors. Residential solid fuel burning is accountable for up to 25% of global black carbon emissions. 84% of this comes from households in developing countries.
Many of today’s more efficient cookstoves can reduce fuel use by 30-60% and that leads to a reduction of air pollutants emissions (Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, 2015). That also has an immediate impact on the climate, because reducing black carbon emissions can bring about a rapid climate response. It also has regional effects. Controlling these pollutants can increase the chances of limiting global temperature rise below 2 ºC.