In Latin America, access to clean cooking technologies remains a major challenge for millions of people. According to the WHO, the use of polluting fuels in homes generates serious health risks, causing millions of premature deaths a year, especially among women and children. Reliance on firewood and other traditional fuels in rural and poor areas perpetuates social inequality, mainly affecting communities in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
While access to electricity or gas does not necessarily guarantee effective use of modern cooking services; Factors such as the cost of adequate appliances and households' ability to pay have a critical impact. Thus, improving clean cooking in the region not only requires expanding energy infrastructure, but also designing policies that consider affordability and technological appropriation by users. How can we ensure that programs such as Improved Stoves in Colombia or Gas for All in Mexico are implemented in the rest of the region, ensuring that all households have access to clean energy for cooking?
