Clean cookstoves for households in rural Nepal

Why this project?

This project involves the distribution and installation of 15,292 fuel-efficient, improved cookstoves for households across 11 rural districts in Nepal. The improved cookstoves will replace current cooking practices of using low-efficiency traditional cookstoves. The project is estimated to avoid 75,000 tCO₂e over the project lifetime of 10 years. The reduction of firewood use will assist in conserving existing forest stocks. The project also results in improved indoor air quality from the complete reduction of indoor smoke pollution, reducing the prevalence of respiratory diseases experienced in local communities.

Carbon impact

The Improved Cook Stove Market Development in Rural Nepal initiative has successfully deployed and installed 15,292 fuel-efficient improved cookstoves across 11 rural districts in Nepal. The project aims to revolutionize cooking practices by replacing inefficient traditional cookstoves with more fuel-efficient models. Over the project's 10-year lifespan, a reduction of 319,830 tons of CO₂ equivalent is anticipated, respectively. The substantial improvement in efficiency translates to significant reductions in both firewood consumption and emissions associated with domestic cooking and water heating tasks.

Considering that over 88% of households in the project-involved districts rely on firewood for cooking and heating, the initiative's impact extends beyond carbon reduction. By curbing firewood use, the project actively contributes to the preservation of existing forest stocks. Furthermore, the transition to improved cookstoves ensures a remarkable enhancement in indoor air quality, marked by the complete elimination of indoor smoke pollution. This, in turn, reduces the prevalence of respiratory diseases within local communities.

Co-benefits

The biodiversity impact of improved cook stoves (ICS) unfolds through the indirect yet crucial role these stoves play in conserving species within forested regions typically exploited for fuel. By diminishing the demand for biomass fuel, ICS projects contribute to biodiversity conservation in areas prone to harvesting. While the project itself doesn't directly engage in biodiversity conservation activities, its impact is intricately tied to the reduction in biomass fuel demand, offering an indirect avenue for species preservation.

Nepal, boasting a rich biodiversity with 2,271 known flora and fauna species, including 120 considered threatened according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, faces challenges in enforcing protection measures. With 24% of its territory designated as protected areas, these regions are susceptible to unregulated deforestation and degradation, particularly due to fuelwood harvesting. The ICS project thus emerges as a crucial element in mitigating these pressures on biodiversity.

The distribution of the ICS, offered at discounted rates, addresses poverty by reducing household fuel costs and freeing up resources for other income-generating activities. The project has a primary health benefit from reduced exposure to indoor pollutants that occur in local communities in the base scenario.

Women are primarily benefiting by minimizing time spent on cooking and fuel collection. Women are actively engaged in stakeholder consultation, trained as stove promoters, and receive compensation for stove installation, aligning with gender equality objectives. With reduced financial barriers, ICS access contributes to affordable and clean energy goals.

Additionally, the project employs local populations for surveying and distribution activities, creating employment opportunities within the community.