Smoke-free Nepal possible only through clean cooking program: report

Nepal can meet its target to eradicate smoke from kitchens by 2022 only through strong implementation of clean cooking program, a new study has suggested.

The recommendation was made through a report looking at the needs of energy poor communities "Poor People's Energy Outlook (PPEO) 2016," which was launched in the capital city on Friday.

The report, released by global development charity Practical Action, stresses on rapid implementation of better measurement of clean cooking, a more systemic and participatory approach to markets for clean cook stoves, a continuing strong emphasis on gender considerations, and a focus on energy access as part of post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.

The report comes at a time when traditional cooking fires are still used in more than half the households in Nepal, which is regarded as a silent killer with their smoky fumes responsible for the deaths of nearly 23,000 people every year.

Addressing the launch event, Minister of Population and Environment Jay Dev Joshi said, "People's energy access plays crucial role in Nepal's economic and social transformation and the government is concentrated on generation, dissemination, distribution and leakage control of energy."

The report was written using evidences gathered in villages in South Asia and Africa, while it urges politicians and development experts to revisit their approach to energy planning and funding.

The report states that improving access to efficient, renewable energy sources, and delivery mechanisms, will help reduce reliance on biomass.

"This would include investment in environment conservation, reduction of indoor air pollution risks in the households, provision of reliable communal services such as health and education and sustaining the gains made in rural development," the report reads. Endit