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In sub-Saharan Africa, household air pollution remains one of the most pressing public health challenges. According to the World Health Organisation, exposure to smoke from traditional cooking fuels contributes to over 800,000 premature deaths annually across the continent, with women and children bearing the greatest burden. At the same time, estimates from the International Energy Agency suggest that nearly 80 percent of households in the region still rely on firewood and charcoal for cooking.
These figures highlight a critical reality. Clean cooking is not only an energy issue. It is one of the most immediate and high-impact interventions at the intersection of public health, climate action, and economic development.
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Yet, despite the availability of proven solutions and clear demand, the sector remains significantly underfunded. The constraint is not technological. It is financial. More specifically, it reflects a structural gap in how clean cooking initiatives are financed. Without government-backed authorisation, carbon finance, which is widely regarded as one of the most viable mechanisms for scaling clean cooking, risks falling short of its full potential.
Carbon markets have created a pathway to address this gap by assigning value to emissions reductions. Through this model, project developers can generate carbon credits and use the proceeds to subsidise the cost of clean cookstoves, in some cases reducing prices by as much as 90 percent for low-income households. While this approach has shown promise, its effectiveness depends on market confidence.
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That confidence is evolving. In today’s carbon markets, credibility is no longer determined solely at the project level. It increasingly depends on whether emissions reductions are recognised and authorised at the national level. Investors and buyers are placing greater emphasis on alignment with host country climate commitments and on transparent accounting systems.
This is where government-backed authorisation becomes critical. Under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, carbon credits intended for international transfer are expected to be supported by host governments through instruments such as Letters of Authorisation. These approvals allow credits to be treated as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes and used toward national or international climate targets.
In practical terms, such authorisation can strengthen the credibility of carbon credits by linking them to national climate frameworks. Without it, credits may face limited demand, pricing uncertainty, and reduced investor confidence. With it, they are more likely to attract financing and support long-term scale.
Across much of Africa, however, the frameworks required to enable this process are still evolving. Clean cooking projects are already delivering measurable benefits by reducing emissions, limiting deforestation, and improving household welfare. However, according to industry observers, many projects remain constrained by unclear regulatory processes and the absence of fully developed authorisation systems. This creates a bottleneck where implementation capacity exists, but financing cannot flow at the required speed or volume.
Nigeria is beginning to signal movement in a different direction. According to public statements from the National Council on Climate Change, the country is positioning itself to access new streams of climate finance. The Director General, Omotenioye Majekodunmi, has highlighted priorities such as developing a national carbon market framework, operationalising a climate change fund, and strengthening institutional financing mechanisms.
Recent policy signals also suggest a shift toward more structured carbon market governance. These include efforts to develop a national carbon registry and to establish clearer oversight mechanisms. In addition, reports indicate that initial Letters of Authorisation have been issued to selected project developers, marking an early step toward implementation.
Early examples, including clean cooking initiatives associated with companies such as BURN, illustrate how emerging frameworks could support investment in local manufacturing, job creation, and large-scale distribution. Facilities such as BURN’s operations in Kano highlight the potential for carbon finance to contribute to domestic value chains while delivering both climate and development outcomes. These examples remain illustrative but point to what could be achieved within a more predictable and transparent policy environment.
If clean cooking is to scale across Africa, this level of policy clarity will be essential. Governments may need to move more decisively to operationalise Article 6 frameworks, establish transparent and predictable authorisation processes, and align carbon market strategies with national climate commitments.
The opportunity is significant. Carbon finance has the potential to channel substantial investment into African economies, supporting industrial development, creating jobs, and accelerating access to modern energy solutions. However, this potential is closely tied to regulatory certainty and institutional credibility. The technology is available. The demand is well established. The financing model has shown promise.
What remains in many markets is the enabling policy environment required to unlock scale.
Without government-backed authorisation, clean cooking carbon projects risk remaining fragmented and underfunded. With it, they are better positioned to expand, reaching millions of households and delivering meaningful climate and public health benefits.
*Chudy Uwadiegwu is a commentator on national issues
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