WASHINGTON, November 22 (Sputnik) – The United States will allocate up to $200 million for the clean cooking sector, the US State Department has said in a statement. The resources are targeted at improving health, reducing environmental degradation, mitigating climate change, and generating economic empowerment and opportunity for women and girls.
"[US] Secretary of State John Kerry…today announced up to $200 million in expected renewed and enhanced support by the United States for the clean cooking sector and the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves," the statement, released Friday, says.
"Building on the United States" initial commitment from 2011-2015, these new expected contributions bring the cumulative anticipated US contribution commitment to this sector and the Alliance up to $325 million through 2020," the statement adds.
About 3 billion people world-wide have no other option but to cook over open fires or traditional stoves, according to the US State Department's statement, which adds that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4 million people die annually from exposure to smoke from these stoves — the world's second worst health risk for women and girls.
The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is led by the UN Foundation with over 1,000 public, private and nonprofit partners. The Alliance aims to create a "thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions" that would prevent premature deaths from stove smoke exposure.
