Nearly 2 Billion Rely on Polluting Cooking Fuels

A UN report reveals that nearly two billion people worldwide continue to depend on polluting cooking fuels, undermining efforts to achieve universal energy access by 2030. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly affected, with 560 million people lacking electricity and nearly one billion without access to clean cooking solutions.

The report indicates that while renewable energy accounts for 30% of global electricity generation, progress in sub-Saharan Africa is slowing significantly. Valeri Levkov, Vice President of Infrastructure at the World Bank Group, emphasizes that the lack of energy access hinders economic growth and job creation.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, stresses that access to clean energy is a public health priority, linking household air pollution to millions of deaths annually.

Without stronger action, the report warns that 1.8 billion people will still rely on polluting cooking fuels by 2030, exacerbating health inequities and economic challenges.