As of 2024, the need for global access to clean cooking solutions has reached a critical level. Despite recent advancements in energy access, an estimated 2.1 billion people worldwide still lack clean cooking technologies. The numbers are stark: in Sub-Saharan Africa alone, nearly 950 million people are projected to remain without access by 2030 if policies remain unchanged. While regions like Latin America have made significant progress, overall access has plateaued at 90%, underscoring the need for targeted intervention.
The consequences of continued reliance on traditional cooking methods are profound. Each year, household air pollution linked to these practices leads to around 4 million premature deaths, with women and children disproportionately affected due to time spent near cooking fires. Environmentally, traditional cooking contributes 2% of global CO₂ emissions and 58% of black carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change and undermining conservation efforts through deforestation.
Brazil’s roadmap for universal clean cooking access includes strategic milestones that support the 2030 and 2050 climate and development goals. The plan leverages Brazil’s leadership at COP30 in 2025 to galvanize action on clean cooking, targeting several critical dates for progress reviews: 2025 (COP30), 2035 (the fifth review of Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs), and 2040 (marking a global transition to modern energy cooking services). These dates align with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 7), which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy for all.
The roadmap’s alignment with broader SDGs, such as SDG 3 (health and well-being), SDG 5 (gender equality), and SDG 13 (climate action), emphasizes the interconnected benefits of clean cooking access. For instance, addressing clean cooking gaps could significantly reduce the health burden of household air pollution, which accounts for a large percentage of preventable respiratory diseases worldwide. Likewise, universal access would free up an estimated 18 hours per week for women who currently gather fuel, directly advancing gender equality by reducing time poverty and enabling economic participation.
Brazil’s roadmap also aims to curb emissions linked to cooking by gradually transitioning from traditional to modern fuels. By 2050, with these initiatives in place, emissions from cooking are projected to fall to under 50 million tons of CO₂ equivalent, offset by broader negative emissions within the energy sector.
For meaningful progress, clean cooking access must become a policy priority integrated into national energy, health, and development frameworks. Brazil’s G20 roadmap urges countries to incorporate clean cooking objectives into their NDCs and national planning exercises, from energy access strategies to Just Energy Transition Plans. This integration provides a stable policy environment, fostering local manufacturing, distribution, and awareness programs that drive clean cooking adoption.
Financially, closing the clean cooking gap requires an estimated $8 billion annually in investment. Brazil’s commitment was evident during the 2024 Clean Cooking Summit in Africa, where public and private sources mobilized a record $2.2 billion for clean cooking initiatives across the continent. With only 7% of clean cooking funding reaching Africa in the last five years, this new momentum represents a necessary shift in global investment flows. The roadmap advocates for an innovative, blended finance approach that leverages public and private capital, concessional loans, and impact financing, enabling scalable solutions for low-income households who are most in need.
Targeted affordability support remains crucial. Over half of the households currently lacking clean cooking access cannot afford it, due to both initial equipment costs and ongoing fuel expenses. Studies show that households switching to cleaner options could achieve payback within a year; however, ongoing affordability issues mean many revert to traditional methods—a phenomenon known as fuel stacking. Results-based financing and impact bonds are recommended to subsidize costs and promote cleaner alternatives, supported by policies that encourage awareness and behavior change.
Market and industry support form the backbone of scalable clean cooking initiatives. While clean cooking investments exceeded $200 million in 2022, the industry remains concentrated, with the top seven companies accounting for 90% of funding. This concentration limits market expansion, highlighting the need for robust industry-led efforts to foster competition, improve supply chains, and diversify energy options.
To stimulate industry growth, Brazil’s roadmap emphasizes the importance of local partnerships, especially in regions with limited infrastructure. By investing in local Research & Development (R&D), fuel production, and stove manufacturing, the clean cooking sector can generate locally adapted solutions and strengthen regional supply chains. For example, local production of biofuels or clean cookstoves could reduce costs and create jobs, expanding access to even the most underserved communities.
Industry-wide collaboration is also essential. Establishing working groups dedicated to specific energy sources, like bioethanol and LPG, would allow for a focused, energy-source-based strategy to streamline development across supply chains. Clear labeling standards, consumer awareness campaigns, and fair market regulations are necessary to establish clean cooking as the norm. Grassroots campaigns, informed by data on consumer behavior, will help increase adoption by addressing common misconceptions, preferences, and affordability concerns.
Achieving universal clean cooking access requires detailed, actionable knowledge about current practices, challenges, and user needs. The Brazil G20 roadmap identifies knowledge gaps as a significant barrier and calls for improved data collection on cooking behaviors, fuel usage, and demographics. By gaining a clearer understanding of issues like fuel stacking and informal market reliance, policymakers can develop tailored solutions that address specific needs and maximize adoption.
The roadmap further prioritizes data transparency and knowledge sharing through a proposed Center of Excellence. This center would centralize data, best practices, and resources for energy planning, policy design, and technological innovation. Establishing such a knowledge-sharing hub is vital, as it allows countries to learn from each other’s successes and avoid common pitfalls.
Inclusion of marginalized groups is critical to a just transition. Women, who bear the majority of the health and time burdens associated with traditional cooking, are primary stakeholders in clean cooking initiatives. Ensuring that clean cooking strategies incorporate gender-responsive policies can improve both effectiveness and uptake. Additionally, targeted programs for displaced populations, indigenous communities, and low-income households are essential, as these groups often lack representation in national data and energy planning. By prioritizing inclusive, evidence-based decision-making, the roadmap aims to ensure no one is left behind in the clean cooking transition.