Over $400 M pledged to scale up clean cooking solutions

NEW YORK (Xinhua) - A global community of clean cooking advocators announced Friday that they will commit $413 million over three years to further mobilize the clean cooking sector and advance the widespread adoption of clean cooking solutions.

The announcement was made during the Cookstoves Future Summit held in New York, where more than 70 representatives from government, the private sector, investors, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations made the commitments.

"The commitments made today clearly demonstrate the global resolve to end the scourge of unsafe exposure to cook smoke and to give families the chance to cook and live in safe and healthy environments," said Radha Muthiah, executive director of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

The Cookstoves Future Summit was co-hosted by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as government officials from four of the largest commitment-makers.

"We have to redouble our efforts to get more clean and efficient products in the hands and homes of families everywhere," said Clinton, adding: "We can rededicate ourselves to doing everything we can to help more people in more places to breathe more easily, work more safely and live healthier lives."

The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves was established in 2010, with the aim to work toward the goal of 100 million homes adopting new clean stoves and fuels by 2020.