Major Group: Women
Improving Health by Reducing Indoor Air ?Pollution
from Traditional Fuel Use
Good morning,
Indoor air pollution resulting from the lack of access to
cleaner energy for cooking and heating has considerable
health impacts, especially on women and children. Although
there is increasing interest on this issue, the challenges of
household energy have not been sufficiently reflected in
policies, funding allocations or strong political-will at any
level. In this context the Women?s Major Group would like to
associate itself with the position of the comments made by
Germany on behalf of the EU, WHO and other distinguished
delegates that have identified priorities and actions to
address the gender dimensions of Indoor Air Pollution and
adds to the following:
1. Clear commitments from donors and distinguished
member state representatives to endorse the proposal
made by the United Nations Millennium Project to halve
the number of women without effective access to clean
cooking and heating fuels, and make improved cooking
technologies widely available by 2015.
2. Indoor air pollution is an inter-sectoral issue. An
integrated approach and the involvement of all actors to
address its gendered impacts and reduce the hazards
involved. Countries should revisit existing sectoral
policies of energy, health and education and make the
necessary interventions for including Indoor Air
Pollution mitigation measures.
3. To establish national standards to demonstrate the
commitment to achieve World Health Organization
standards in a time bound manner.
4. To establish mechanisms for regular evaluation of
available data on indoor air pollution and its impacts in
comparison to the benefits of improved health,
education and income opportunities that increased
access to cleaner energy fuels for cooking and heating
bring to women.
5. For undertaking the above mentioned actions capacity
building and training should be a national priority.
Education to increase awareness to create a shift in the
present energy use practices and behavioral changes
should consider school and professional curricula, local
kitchen management as well as technological options
and safety issues.
6. Promotion of existing technologies in developing
countries should consider the local and cultural and
gender contexts to ensure acceptability and sustainable
use.
7. International and regional initiatives should be geared
towards accelerating the deployment and lowering the
cost of cleaner energy technologies. Specifically those
that directly improve access to household energy and
reduce Indoor Air Pollution.
8. Link energy programs with income generating activities
to improve the intra-house conditions so as to enable a
move up the ?energy-ladder? and address gender
issues and the value of women?s labour that may
otherwise impede adoption of new energy technologies.
9. Finally, we would like to conclude that the adverse
impacts of Indoor Air Pollution can be addressed.
Practical and achievable solutions are already available
such as the improved cook stove programmes in East
Africa where technologies have been transferred and
up-scaled in Kenya and Uganda. These initiatives have
been supported by partnership between NGOs, women
local entrepreneurs and the governments.
from Traditional Fuel Use
Good morning,
Indoor air pollution resulting from the lack of access to
cleaner energy for cooking and heating has considerable
health impacts, especially on women and children. Although
there is increasing interest on this issue, the challenges of
household energy have not been sufficiently reflected in
policies, funding allocations or strong political-will at any
level. In this context the Women?s Major Group would like to
associate itself with the position of the comments made by
Germany on behalf of the EU, WHO and other distinguished
delegates that have identified priorities and actions to
address the gender dimensions of Indoor Air Pollution and
adds to the following:
1. Clear commitments from donors and distinguished
member state representatives to endorse the proposal
made by the United Nations Millennium Project to halve
the number of women without effective access to clean
cooking and heating fuels, and make improved cooking
technologies widely available by 2015.
2. Indoor air pollution is an inter-sectoral issue. An
integrated approach and the involvement of all actors to
address its gendered impacts and reduce the hazards
involved. Countries should revisit existing sectoral
policies of energy, health and education and make the
necessary interventions for including Indoor Air
Pollution mitigation measures.
3. To establish national standards to demonstrate the
commitment to achieve World Health Organization
standards in a time bound manner.
4. To establish mechanisms for regular evaluation of
available data on indoor air pollution and its impacts in
comparison to the benefits of improved health,
education and income opportunities that increased
access to cleaner energy fuels for cooking and heating
bring to women.
5. For undertaking the above mentioned actions capacity
building and training should be a national priority.
Education to increase awareness to create a shift in the
present energy use practices and behavioral changes
should consider school and professional curricula, local
kitchen management as well as technological options
and safety issues.
6. Promotion of existing technologies in developing
countries should consider the local and cultural and
gender contexts to ensure acceptability and sustainable
use.
7. International and regional initiatives should be geared
towards accelerating the deployment and lowering the
cost of cleaner energy technologies. Specifically those
that directly improve access to household energy and
reduce Indoor Air Pollution.
8. Link energy programs with income generating activities
to improve the intra-house conditions so as to enable a
move up the ?energy-ladder? and address gender
issues and the value of women?s labour that may
otherwise impede adoption of new energy technologies.
9. Finally, we would like to conclude that the adverse
impacts of Indoor Air Pollution can be addressed.
Practical and achievable solutions are already available
such as the improved cook stove programmes in East
Africa where technologies have been transferred and
up-scaled in Kenya and Uganda. These initiatives have
been supported by partnership between NGOs, women
local entrepreneurs and the governments.