A family in Ghana uses an average amount of 180 kg charcoal per year, which adds up to approximately six times - that means more than one ton - as much wood. To cover this demand, each year huge areas of forests are being cleared without reforestation. Not only does this destroy a valuable habitat for animals and plants, but the combustion of wood releases greenhouse gases sequestered during the trees’ lifespan into the atmosphere. As the forest area shrinks, the supply routes for fuel are getting longer and Ghanaians – of which one third live below the poverty line – have to spend more and more money or valuable time on securing their wood supply.

Additionally, substantial smoke emissions from the traditional stoves have a negative impact on health, particularly among women and children. As most Ghanian families live in small and often windowless huts, they are confronted with the toxic smoke emitted by the stoves on a daily basis. On top of the respiratory and lung disease caused by soot and particulate matter, the carbon monoxide emitted by the stoves poses a serious health risk. A colorless and odorless gas, carbon monoxide can harm embryos and is know to increase mortality rates among infants. The World Health Organization (WHO) associates approximately 16,000 deaths yearly with respiratory diseases caused by smoke.

Distributing more efficient cook stoves has the potential to substantially improve living conditions in Ghana.  The stoves are constructed in such a way that smoke emissions are significantly reduced and the demand for fuel is cut by approximately 35% to 50%. Reducing the need for wood fuel has a direct positive effect on Ghanians’ health and improves their household finances by lowering their fuel expenses. Furthermore, deforestation is slowed and Ghana is given the opportunity to consider more sustainable logging practices.

 Through the sale of climate protection certificates, the stoves can be offered for a reduced price, ensuring they are affordable even for poorer families. In the course of the project, a total of 240,000 stoves are to be sold. The avoided emissions add up to more than 65,500 tons of CO2 annually.