Vice President Dr. Philip Mpango has called on Africa’s youth to lead innovative solutions in the shift toward clean cooking energy.
Speaking at a COP29 side event in Baku, Azerbaijan, Dr. Mpango emphasized that harnessing the creativity and ingenuity of young people is critical for making clean energy accessible and affordable across Africa, especially in rural areas.
Delivering remarks on behalf of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Dr. Mpango highlighted the economic and health benefits of clean cooking energy, stressing that youth-led innovation could help reduce energy costs and expand access.
"With Africa’s large youth population, we must empower them to create solutions that make clean cooking energy both accessible and affordable," he said.
He proposed pay-as-you-go and other flexible payment models to make clean energy more affordable, so that all households, regardless of income, can benefit from clean cooking options.
The event, co-hosted by Tanzania and the African Union Commission (AUC), brought together leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss Africa’s path toward clean energy. Several prominent voices called for strong, multi-sector partnerships to advance clean cooking initiatives across the continent.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, emphasized the need to localize clean cooking technology production to stimulate African economies, create jobs, and make clean energy accessible.
“We urge stakeholders to build local energy production chains that support a fair transition to clean cooking energy while driving social and economic growth,” she stated.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, pointed to Tanzania’s leadership in implementing clean cooking initiatives, particularly in schools, and stressed the importance of integrating cooking energy projects with electricity expansion efforts.
The meeting also underscored the significance of supportive policy frameworks and increased investment in clean cooking technology.
These priorities align with commitments made in the Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change, where African leaders pledged to enhance regulatory environments and attract private sector investment in clean cooking energy.
Kevin Kariuki, Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), noted that nearly one billion Africans still rely on unsafe and polluting fuels for cooking, a dependency that hampers the continent’s energy transition.
He pledged AfDB’s support with $2 billion over the next decade to fund clean cooking projects, reaffirming the bank’s commitment made at COP28.
International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol echoed the urgency, emphasizing that universal access to clean cooking technology in Africa is achievable within the next decade.
He noted that the IEA is actively working with Tanzania and other countries to advance this goal, encouraging further investment and collaboration from all stakeholders.
The event also featured the launch of a new report from the African Energy Commission (AFREC), which outlines the challenges and opportunities in Africa’s clean cooking transition.
The report provides guidance on technology, financial models, and policy measures needed to facilitate a sustainable shift toward clean cooking energy in Africa.
The discussions highlighted Africa’s readiness to embrace innovative solutions and collaboration in the pursuit of clean cooking energy, underscoring a shared commitment to sustainable and inclusive development across the continent.
