UNEP JOINS GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR CLEAN ENERGY COOK STOVES

New York, 21 September 2010 - The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has joined a new international alliance that aims to cut the estimated 1.6 million to 1.8 million premature deaths linked with indoor emissions from inefficient cook stoves by boosting the efficiency of around three billion cook stoves across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The Global Alliance for Clean Cook Stoves was launched, Tuesday, during the 65th session of the UN General Assembly, as part of the Global Clinton Initiative and spearheaded by the UN Foundation.

The initiative can also make a contribution to reducing deforestation by curbing the large quantities of wood and other biomass used to make charcoal or by households switching to alternative fuels including cookers powered by solar energy.

Other fuels include liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and a new one called "gel" fuel consisting of ethanol and organic pulp. Community-based biofuel projects could be developed to make the gel fuel, thus saving households money, generating employment and offering alternative livelihoods.