A serious injustice is being done to Africa in the name of climate change. Hundreds of thousands die each year because of indoor air pollution caused by cooking on wood and charcoal. Clearing forests for these fuels also causes rampant deforestation.
The best alternative is LPG – liquid petroleum gas - but the World Bank and many rich countries don’t support it because it’s a fossil fuel. Instead, they demand that people in the Global South use unreliable, or expensive alternatives – ones they themselves won’t use.
Our report “Africa: Just Stop Cooking” highlights the extent of the hypocrisy of the Global North, showing how they are installing vast new carbon-intensive facilities, dwarfing the climate impact of local LPG use in Africa. Let's be clear: climate change has been caused by emissions from the Global North and won't be solved by telling Africans to “just stop cooking.”
That's why we're calling on the World Bank to make an exception to the ban on fossil fuel financing, allowing people in Africa to cook safely and sustainably on LPG. The World Bank should make this commitment explicit at its Annual General Meeting this October. Add your name today to end the hypocrisy and secure a cleaner, safer future for the people of Africa.