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CLEVEL's portfolio of carbon compensation through Social Carbon Reduction projects includes efficient stoves projects in Cambodia and Kenya.
The GERES project is verified for carbon reduction by the global accreditation foundation DNV. 90 % of the Cambodian population depend daily on fuel-wood for cooking purposes. This dependency has increased considerably in recent years. As a consequence, forest resources are seriously threatened. The objective of the project is to reduce charcoal and thereby fuel wood consumption by introducing improved Lao cook stoves in Cambodia.
Apart from avoiding CO2 emissions by reduced wood and charcoal consumption, the project contributes to Sustainable Development in many ways. All three aspects of sustainability are promoted; the environmental, the social and the economic side. As far as environmental sustainability is concerned, the major gain is the avoidance of overexploitation of the forests. Thus the forest resources are protected and biodiversity is conserved. An improvement in social sustainability is achieved through reductions in smoke, ime saved in collecting fuel and improved access to energy for the poorer members of the community.
Finally, lack of economic sustainability is tackled. Firewood supply costs are reduced, small-scale businesses such as stove producers and retailers are consolidated, and in some cases jobs are created. GERES Cambodia has recently formed an alliance of organisations to ensure great access to carbon finance and a better deal for grass roots projects.
The UPESI Stoves Project in Kenya is delivering cash savings and health benefits to families in western Kenya. The project is a joint initiative between CLEVEL and Practical Action. The project concentrates on cooking stoves made by pottery cooperatives, that reduce fuelwood use and indoor smoke pollution.
Practical Action aims to demonstrate and advocate the sustainable use of technology to reduce poverty. They are also running programmes specifically to assist those most affected by climate change impact in the majority world.
In many countries in Africa the main source of fuel for cooking is wood, burnt on an open fire. This causes excessive smoke and a massive health problem, particularly for women and children who spend more time in the kitchens. It is a key global health issue identified as a priority for action by the World Health Organisation.
A lack of enclosure around the fire and a lack of mass to store heat makes open fire cooking inefficient, with more wood being burnt. Wood is a limited resource and is becoming harder to collect, more costly to buy and is linked to regional deforestation.
The project’s upesi stoves are simple but effective and replace traditional cooking on rocks. Reduced CO2 emissions from burning and reduced pressure on remaining forests are key benefits, but the project is also tailored to reach people who would not otherwise buy and install these stoves. This is being achieved by distributing the new stoves to vulnerable groups facing extreme poverty in the stove making areas. This, combined with CLEVEL funding, is achieving the projects strong additionality.
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