Promotion and use of improved cook stoves in the conservation of biomass resources and biomass briquettes from solid wastes in the Gambia

ABSTRACT

In regions where biomass is a traditional fuel for cooking, improved cook-stoves can enhance indoor air quality, personal health, livelihoods, and the environment-while substantially reducing greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions. Although ongoing efforts have successfully disseminated improved stoves that achieve many of these benefits, substantially greater emissions reductions are needed to comply with international guidelines for indoor air quality and to limit GHG emissions like black carbon. Today, an estimated 2.5 billion people, or about one-third of the world's population, rely on biomass fuel for cooking. According to the World Health Organization [WHO], exposure to smoke from these open fires and cook-stoves leads to pneumonia, chronic respiratory disease, and lung cancer-causing an estimated 1.6 million deaths each yean. In the developing world, the disease burden from indoor smoke is comparable to the burdens from malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS. Improved cook-stoves with reduced emissions and greater fuel efficiency can achieve the following- Reduce disease and save lives by decreasing exposure to indoor air pollution [IAP]. - Reduce the risk of violence against women and children gathering fuel in conflict areas.- Reduce the time and cost of procuring fuel, thereby freeing individuals for other productive activities.- Empower women and communities via engagement in the production, use, and distribution of cook stoves.- Mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, including black carbon [BC].- Reduce pressure on forests and other vegetation and facilitate sustainable harvesting of biomass fuels