Over half of the population in both China and India use traditional cookstoves that emit harmful air pollutants resulting in over a million annual premature deaths. Reducing pollution from cookstoves is a key priority as emissions from traditional cookstoves and open fires with solid fuels is a major health concern.

Over half of the population in both China and India use traditional cookstoves that emit harmful air pollutants resulting in over a million annual premature deaths. Reducing pollution from cookstoves is a key priority as emissions from traditional cookstoves and open fires with solid fuels is a major health concern.

Household air pollution is the single most important environmental health risk worldwide, and women and children are at particularly high risk from exposure. This global report provides new data on the still-pervasive use of polluting fuels for home cooking, lighting and heating, as well as an in-depth look at the impacts on women and children.

A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) says despite more than a decade of work to reduce domestic air pollution sources, progress toward universal access to clean cooking fuels remains far too slow.

The report starkly sets out the dangerous impact air pollution is currently having on our nation’s health. Each year in the UK, around 40,000 deaths are attributable to exposure to outdoor air pollution which plays a role in many of the major health challenges of our day.