A new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) desk study launched at the 17th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment in Durban, South Africa, calls for urgent action to address the production and consumption of biomass as a source of energy in Africa. The study presents the current status of biomass energy in Africa and explores ways to mitigate its negative impacts until a transition to cleaner and modern energy sources takes place. Conducted by UNEP in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), the study has found that biomass (firewood and charcoal) production in Africa accounted for 90 per cent of round-wood production in 2016, of which 16 per cent was converted to charcoal.
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