Cleaner Cookstoves in Peru

Peru is both a contributor to and a victim of climate change, ranked 43rd in countries most vulnerable to climate change. Its fast-developing urban economy is chaotic and not accompanied by proper environmental improvement of technology. Its rural areas have been drastically hit by deforestation, both the tropical and mountain forests.

The most obvious and dramatic impacts are: the rapid melting of tropical glaciers, which are expected to disappear completely within a century; desertification, that will soon put the poorest inhabitants of the country in danger, including the populations of the Andes mountainous areas; and deforestation that is threatening the biomass reserves of the country. The poorest inhabitants have very low levels of access to basic needs such as drinking water, electricity, balanced diet and medicines. One of the most significant health issues relates to the using traditional methods of cooking food on open fires.

The improved cookstoves replace three stone or terracotta stoves and are constructed with local materials by local people, using clay found in their own backyards. Each new stove sold emits less greenhouse gas emissions compared to the original stove, helping to bring down global emissions. The installation of the chimney will vent smoke outside, reducing smoke exposure to drastically reduce acute respiratory and lung diseases in Andean rural families.

This project is is part of a wider group of similar projects which cumulative have installed more that 140,000 cookstoves, benefitting approximately 600,000 people living in poverty. These projects were the first ever cookstoves projects to become Gold Standard certified and issue credits. It was also acknowledged with a PCIA (Partnership for Clean Indoor Air) special achievement award for meeting social and behaviour needs and was recognised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the best solution in Peru for access to carbon finance in the framework of a regional initiative in Latin America.