Togo Bets Big on Clean Cooking in Bid to Curb Deforestation and Health Risks

In a move that aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and improve public health, Togo has launched a nationwide clean cooking initiative designed to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on traditional biomass.

The program, announced by government officials this week, aims to accelerate access to cleaner cooking alternatives such as improved cookstoves, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and biogas for millions of households that still depend on wood and charcoal for daily meals.

According to the government, nearly 80% of Togolese families rely on biomass for cooking, contributing to rapid deforestation and exposing women and children to harmful indoor air pollution, a leading cause of respiratory diseases in low-income nations.

The new strategy targets the distribution of subsidized clean cooking equipment, the expansion of fuel supply chains in rural areas, and public awareness campaigns on the environmental and health benefits of transitioning away from solid fuels.

Officials say the program is part of Togo’s broader commitment to achieving universal access to clean cooking by 2030, a goal aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Early funding has been secured through a mix of government budget allocations and international climate finance mechanisms.

Environmental experts have welcomed the move, noting that West Africa remains one of the regions with the lowest clean cooking adoption rates.

“Transitioning to clean cooking not only saves lives but also helps preserve the region’s remaining forests,” said a regional energy advisor.

The launch positions Togo as one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa to adopt a nationwide, policy-driven approach to the clean cooking challenge, potentially setting a benchmark for neighbors facing similar energy access and environmental pressures.