U.S. Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Clean Cooking
WASHINGTON, D.C.,听NOVEMBER听18, 2021听鈥�鈥� On the heels of the COP26 international climate conference,听two听U.S.听Senators听have introduced听a bill to accelerate access to clean cooking.听听
Led by Senator听Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator听Dick Durbin (D-IL), the听Clean Cooking Support Act will help people in low- and middle-income countries switch from using open fires and polluting fuels for cooking听to using听more听modern stoves and fuels听such as electricity, solar power, gas, and biofuels.听听
Globally, nearly one听out听of three people rely on polluting cooking fuels like charcoal, wood, and kerosene. Such 鈥渄irty cooking鈥� is a听leading听source of carbon emissions and听contributes听to the death of听some听4听million people each year, according to the World Health Organization.听
The bipartisan鈥疌lean Cooking听Support Act, which is already supported by more than听50听businesses, research institutions, governments, and advocacy organizations,听would听accelerate听financing, research, market development, technological standards, and support to countries鈥� carbon听emissions听reductions plans.听The bill would also create a much-needed听Interagency听Working听Group, chaired by the offices of the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, to work with听organizations including the听听to increase global access to clean cooking fuels and technologies.听听
鈥淥ur bill aims to address a serious global public health and environmental issue where leadership by the United States can make a real difference. It would directly benefit some of the world鈥檚 poorest people, including the women and girls who are disproportionately affected, and reduce harmful pollution that affects us all,鈥� said听Senator Susan Collins. 鈥淚 urge my colleagues听to join me and Senator Durbin in supporting the Clean Cooking Support Act.鈥�
鈥淭he U.S. should听take a leadership position in creating and implementing climate solutions that support a cleaner, healthier planet for all,鈥� said听Senator Dick Durbin.听鈥淲ith the Clean Cooking Support Act, we can reduce harmful emissions and protect people from the dangerous health risks of using inefficient and unsafe cookstoves and fuels. I鈥檓 proud to join Senator Collins in introducing this bipartisan legislation to ensure that American development assistance and expertise helps in this timely effort.鈥澨�听
At an event during the recent climate听summit, the听Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency听Michael S. Regan听said,听鈥淭he U.S. government will work with the Clean Cooking Alliance, other country governments, and partners at every level of government to reduce emissions from home cooking and heating that contribute to climate change and directly affect the health and livelihoods of almost 40 percent of the world鈥檚 population.鈥�听
鈥淐lean cooking is a significant opportunity to make a difference in public health while simultaneously reducing harmful climate emissions. I applaud Senator Durbin and Senator Collins for supporting this important work,鈥澨�said Dr. Sola Olopade, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Global Health, University of Chicago.听听
鈥淭he message from COP26 was听clear: we need climate solutions that听not only reduce听harmful听emissions, but also help听address health, economic, and gender inequities,鈥澨�said Dymphna van der Lans, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Cooking Alliance.听鈥淭his transition cannot happen without听significant increases in funding and dedicated resources. We thank听Senator Collins and Senator Durbin for听their leadership on this important issue,听and we look forward to working听together to pass this legislation and help听make universal access to clean cooking a reality.鈥澨�听
Since 2010, more than听听people have gained access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, with more than 4.6 million lives saved from harmful health impacts attributed to household air pollution, according to the World Health Organization and Health Effects Institute.听听
Despite these significant achievements, the pace of progress remains far too slow.听Billions of people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America听still听rely on inefficient fuels and stoves.听Climate-damaging emissions from cooking听with non-renewable听woodfuels听amount听to a gigaton of CO2e per year听鈥撎齩n听par with emissions from aviation听and shipping.听听听
The Clean Cooking Alliance听is听working with partners around the world to improve access to clean cooking, including听through听a multi-stakeholder听Clean Cooking Energy Compact听that brings together countries鈥� and organizations鈥� commitments to action,听and the implementation of听a听,鈥痺hich is spearheading innovative activities like a听Delivery Units Network听to help governments achieve their听clean cooking plans.听
Supporting听the Clean Cooking Support Act听
A diverse coalition of more than 50 businesses, research institutions, governments, and advocacy organizations have signed on to support this new legislation. To add your name, please contact听info@cleancooking.org.听听
- Acacia Innovations
- Africa-Europe Foundation
- African Clean Energy
- Almavest
- American Lung Association
- Aprovecho Research Center (Oregon State University)
- ATEC* Biodigesters
- Berkeley Air Monitoring Group
- Better World Campaign
- BioLite
- Boston College Global Observatory of Pollution and Health
- Burn Design Lab
- BURN Manufacturing
- CLASP
- Clean Cook Africa
- Clean Cooking Alliance
- CLEANCOOK Sweden AB
- Climate and Energy Advisory Ltd
- D&E Green Enterprises
- Dalberg
- Emerging Cooking Solutions
- Enabling Qapital
- ENERGIA
- Envirofit International
- Every Breath Counts Coalition
- Ferre Haiti
- Fosera
- Global LPG Partnership
- Global Women鈥檚 Network for Energy Transition
- Gold Standard
- Government of Kenya
- Government of Sierra Leone
- Haines Solar Cookers, LLC
- Haiti Propane
- Heifer International
- Home Biogas
- IBRIZ
- Icuga Women鈥檚 Health Organization
- Ignite.now
- Jumuiya Women Fund
- KOKO Networks
- Livelyhoods
- Lowercarbon Capital
- Modern Energy Cooking Services
- Mimi Moto
- Mom鈥檚 Clean Air Force
- Mwangaza Light
- Palmis Eneji
- Partners in Sustainable Development
- Paygas
- People, Energy and Environment Development Association
- Pivot Energy
- Project GAIA
- Public-Private Alliance Foundation
- Pure Earth
- Sistema.bio
- Shell Foundation
- Solar Cookers International
- Student Energy
- Sun BD Corporation
- Sustainable Energy for All
- Switch Haiti
- Terminal Propane
- The Energy Nexus Network
- The Fusion Experience Kenya Limited
- Third Stone Design
- Tropical Lounge Haiti
- United Nations Association of the USA
- University of Chicago Center for Global Health
- Value for Women
- Vital Strategies
- Whitten & Roy Partnership
- Winrock
- World Central Kitchen
- World LPG Association
- Xpress Gas Limited
