GBM Blog

Bringing Clean Cookstoves to GBM Communities

April 27, 2012 - 12:40AM
Published by Kathryn Gelder

Earlier this week, the Green Belt Movement co-hosted an East Africa regional meeting with the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves in Nairobi, Kenya. GBM was identified as a key regional partner in this new initiative from the UN Foundation, and several members of staff were there to represent GBM at the conference. Wanjira Mathai, Director of International Relations at GBM, spoke at the event to a receptive audience about the importance of protecting the environment in Kenya and empowering women. 

"Some of the most important investments we can make for the future of our country, indeed for the years 2020, 2030, hinge on protecting Kenya's 5 main water towers that today remain devastated and continue to be plundered. At the Green Belt Movement, we know this is a matter of life and death. We can transform our water security by securing our watersheds... But as we do this, we know that we must also address the pressure on these ecosystems, especially deforestation and food insecurity."

"That is why we are so excited about the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. This public-private partnership is working to improve livelihoods, empower women, and combat climate change by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions. It is also fostering sustainable markets for technologies that people want, can afford and will ultimately use."

- Wanjira Mathai

The workshop brought together different players and partners in the clean energy and environmental sectors from the East African Region who came together to identify priority areas and action plans for each country. GBM looks forward to being a part of the Alliance by sharing the research and lessons learned from communities' experiences with traditional cookstoves and the benefits of introducing new technologies.

Through a partnership with the Ashden Trust, GBM is currently exploring how different energy efficient offerings could add value to tree nursery groups around the country. Using the data gathered from different GBM communities will help us learn the best way to integrate the new technologies into our work and how we can create better access for the communities.