NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Over 500 people from 50+ countries gathered today in Nairobi for the Clean Cooking Forum 2019, happening for the first time in East Africa. Co-hosted by the Clean Cooking Alliance (the Alliance) and the Kenya Ministry of Energy, this flagship event is the largest gathering for those working to achieve universal access to clean cooking and Sustainable Development Goal 7, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the World Bank Group/ESMAP, GET.invest, Shell, Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), UK aid, Norad, Equity Bank, and Chevron, the Clean Cooking Forum 2019 itinerary features interactive discussions, Business-to-Business Matchmaking, and an innovation expo showcasing some of the most state-of-the-art clean cooking solutions. The Forum is highlighting progress toward a global, sustainable industry and, at the same time, will set the stage for discussing persistent and wide investment gaps in the sector.
Opening remarks from the Alliance's CEO, Dymphna van der Lans, recognized the leadership demonstrated by the Government of Kenya in working to increase access to clean cooking. "Kenya has been at the forefront of establishing policies that support clean cooking sector growth, having made a commitment for 100% of its population to have access to modern energy services for cooking by 2030," said van der Lans.
With high-level speakers including government officials, public-sector stakeholders, and other world leaders, the Opening Plenary explored the crucial role that global advocacy, increased investment, and national policies can play in ensuring access to clean cooking solutions for three billion worldwide. In addition, "Clean Cooking Is…" – the first-ever global campaign exclusively created to drive greater awareness, engagement, and support for clean cooking – was launched by Alliance Ambassadors H.E. Samira Bawumia, Second Lady of Ghana, and Rocky Dawuni, Grammy-nominated musician.
"We must build momentum now to achieve universal access to clean cooking by 2030," said Hon. Charles Keter, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Energy, Kenya in the Keynote Address.
"Cooking is a silent tsunami. Failure to address the problem does not reflect inadequate technology or even insufficient resources, but a lack of political will," said Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and/Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Former two-term Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
"The work we are doing is contributing enormously to accelerating progress on health for people, for children, for women, for all of us," said Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, the World Health Organization.
For more information and to stay up-to-date with daily Forum highlights, please visit http://www.CleanCooking2019 or follow the hashtag #CCF2019 by connecting with the Alliance on Twitter, Facebook, and C:\Users\kmanchester\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook\J6JQ669F\cleancookingalliance [Instagram __title__ Instagram].
About the Clean Cooking Alliance
The Clean Cooking Alliance works with a global network of partners to build an inclusive industry that makes clean cooking accessible to the three billion people who live each day without it. Established in 2010, the Alliance is driving consumer demand, mobilizing investment to build a pipeline of scalable businesses, and fostering an enabling environment that allows the sector to thrive. Clean cooking transforms lives by improving health, protecting the climate and the environment, empowering women, and helping families save time and money. Learn more about our work at http://www.CleanCookingAlliance.org.
SOURCE Clean Cooking Alliance
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