Health and Environment Risks from Traditional Cooking Persist in Africa

In Numbers:
• Around 400,000 premature deaths annually in Africa are linked to indoor air pollution from traditional cooking methods.
• Traditional biomass fuels account for nearly 50% of household energy-related emissions on the continent.
• Potential clean cooking adoption could reduce residential emissions by up to 30% by 2030.

What Changed:
Premature deaths due to indoor pollution have slightly increased since the last report, mainly driven by population growth and slow clean cooking adoption. Emissions from traditional biomass cooking remain a significant contributor to deforestation and climate change. Urban areas show some improvement in exposure, but rural populations continue to face the highest health risks. Despite the potential for emissions reductions, widespread clean cooking uptake has yet to materialize.

Why It Matters:
Indoor air pollution from polluting cooking fuels remains one of Africa’s most pressing health and environmental issues. Progress in clean cooking access directly affects mortality rates, environmental degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. Without accelerated adoption of cleaner fuels and technologies, both health burdens and climate impacts will persist, slowing global efforts toward universal clean cooking access.

Why Africa Should Care:
The heavy reliance on traditional cooking methods continues to cause thousands of avoidable deaths and environmental harm, disproportionately affecting rural and low-income communities. Expanding access to clean fuels like LPG and improved cookstoves is essential to reducing health risks, protecting forests, and easing socio-economic burdens, particularly for women who bear the brunt of household cooking.