Delhi encounters high levels of particulate pollution often, generally known as haze. However, since the first week of November 2023, Delhi has remained engulfed in smog and haze generating fear of serious health effects for its citizens. A joint study led by IIT Kanpur that was published in the Nature Geoscience magazine, it was stated that the uncontrolled biomass burning emissions for residential heating and cooking in the Indo-Gangetic plain are to be blamed for Delhi's high particle pollution levels. The uncontrolled biomass burning gives rise to ultrafine particles causing an increase in PM 2.5 levels in the atmosphere. Besides causing particulate emission, burning organic material emits nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), lead, mercury, and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) reducing the quality of atmospheric air.
It was in this background that the experts and delegates thronged to The Park Hotel in the heart of the city for the second "Modern Energy Cooking Forum 2023", organized on November 3, 2023 by the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) Programme, through its In-country partner – India, Finovista. The Forum aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to engage in a dialogue and exchange ideas to leverage investment to address the clean cooking challenge. This MECS initiative was supported by the Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, International Solar Alliance (ISA), Power Foundation of India (PFI), and Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL).
The problem of indoor and outdoor pollution is not specific to Delhi or the Gangatic plains of North India. In the latest 2023 SDG7 Tracking Report, it's revealed that globally 2.3 billion people in the developing world still rely on polluting cooking fuels and technologies. Another 4 billion lack access to cleaner modern energy cooking options, causing nearly 3.2 million premature deaths annually due to indoor air pollution. Additionally, burning non-renewable biomass fuels for cooking emits one gigaton of CO2 each year (about 2% of global GHG emissions), with household solid fuel use contributing to 58% of global black carbon emissions. This makes household emissions a significant factor in climate change and air pollution, highlighting the need for a substantial expansion of electric cooking solutions.
The day-long Forum comprised a series of panel discussions, each focusing on distinct aspects of the clean cooking sector. The topics of discussion included "Role of Policy in Promoting eCooking," "Gaps in Supply Chain for the Clean Cooking Sector", "Bringing Women at the Center Stage in the Clean Cooking Sector", and the last one "Unlocking Investments in the Modern Energy-Based Clean Cooking Sector". The experts coming from the government ministries, public sector units, private sector, and research institutions deliberated on a range of issues and challenges and suggested possible measures for accelerating the transition to modern clean cooking fuels and the optimal fuel mix. They also explored how to best scale up eCooking in areas with varying levels of electricity access, the regulatory frameworks necessary to drive eCooking adoption, and the potential use of current LPG subsidies to make eCooking more affordable for end users. The panelists shared their insights on domestic market opportunities and efficient distribution models and the need for focused policy requirements to strengthen the local component manufacturing ecosystem for eCooking devices, including skill development. Additionally, the discussion covered standards development and labeling, as well as policy initiatives like PLI schemes, tax, and electricity tariff concessions.
The critical role of women in achieving universal access to clean cooking, and ways to address current barriers to their involvement was another important and interesting area that was covered in the panel discussion. Lastly, in the "Unlocking Investments in the Modern Energy-Based Clean Cooking Sector" session, the experts shared their thoughts on the development of responsible carbon markets for the clean cooking sector, assessing funding risks and measures to mitigate them, the need to view clean cooking solution financing in terms of its social, health, and economic benefits, and strategies for mobilizing private finance for the clean cooking sector. These discussions underscored the multifaceted nature of the challenges and opportunities in the clean cooking sector and the importance of a comprehensive approach involving policy, industry support, and community engagement. It was also noted that “The Green Shift" report, prepared by the Energy Transition Advisory Committee (ETAC) under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, has recommended that 25% of households in India should be using electricity for cooking by 2030.
The Forum featured the launch of WMEC (Women in Modern Energy Cooking), an initiative designed to empower and mobilize women in the clean cooking sector. The forum also unveiled another initiative launched by MECS namely the Global Electric Cooking Coalition (GeCCo), and also witnessed Finovista introducing the BET initiative, encompassing efforts in Behavior, Economics, and Technologies for clean cooking. The event also noted another initiative undertaken by EESL to distribute 2 million energy-efficient induction cook stoves across the country, which is expected to provide a cost-effective cooking solution for households.
Dr. Nick Rousseau of the MECS Programme, UK aptly summarised the Forum when he pointed out “When MECS started in India in 2019 the question was: What evidence is there to show that electric cooking is viable for India? Now, 4 years on, the 100 delegates and speakers at the Forum were saying: “India must move to electric cooking – how can we work together to make this happen?”
Alongside the "Modern Energy Cooking Forum 2023," an exhibition showcasing cutting-edge modern energy cooking devices and related accessories was a testimony of the developing manufacturing ecosystem for eCooking devices in India emphasizing India's potential to lead the transition to eCooking across the Global South.