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Household cookstoves, environment, health, and climate change: a new look at an old problem

Household cookstoves, environment, health, and climate change: a new look at an old problem

This review on state of cookstove research & action in the developing nations including India, examines opportunities for technology development and presents a roadmap for scaling up stove programs as transformative tools for sustainable development.


 

Research on improved cookstoves dates back to the 1950s; the ensuing decades witnessed large-scale field programs centered on increasing the efficiency of certain stove designs. Over the past 30 years, the focus of the international community has gradually shifted toward the sociocultural contexts in which the stoves operate. While the stoves themselves may have been simple, their effects on household and regional health and economics have often been complex and far-reaching. In short, many approaches to introducing improved stoves have been tried, with some successes and many failures. Household Cookstoves, Environment, Health, and Climate Change: A New Look at an Old Problem takes stock of our collective knowledge of actions and opportunities centered on clean stoves. The report not only examines the lessons learned in specific stove campaigns; it builds the case for a multisectoral approach to understand the effects of stove policies and programs.

See Also

Report: Modernizing energy services for the poor.
Opinion: The challenge of the chulha.
Review: CSE comments on low carbon strategies for inclusive growth.
Report: New initiative for development and deployment of improved cookstoves
Report: What woodfuels can do to mitigate climate change.
Report: World energy outlook 2010.
Report: The energy access situation.
Report: WHO guidelines for indoor air quality.