West Africa
Republic of Liberia
The Republic of Liberia is a country on the West African Atlantic coast. The country has a population around 5 million people and a GDP of approximately US$3.5B. Liberia is among the 46 Least Developed Countries (LDC) identified by the United Nations. According to WHO, each year 3,000 people die prematurely due to toxic smoke related to cooking practices in Liberia.
UN Least Developed Countries (LDC)
The Least Developed Countries (LDC) category was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1971. They are low-income countries confronting severe structural impediments to sustainable development. They are highly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks and have low levels of human assets
Endangered habitat and species
Upper Guinean Rainforest
Liberia is home to a large portion of the Upper Guinean Forest that stores millions of tons of carbon. Six species at risk live in this rainforest: Resident Chimpanzees, Pygmy Hippopotamus, Timneh Parrots, and Upper Guinea Red Colobus. As 70% of this forest has been destroyed by human activity, these endangered species are losing their critical habitat. A significant portion of the deforestation in Liberia is happening for the production of charcoal that is used for cooking.
Carbonibus Program
Cooking in Liberia
A large portion of the population in Liberia has no access to clean cooking technologies. In the more urban areas of Monrovia and of Montserrado county, families use energy-inefficient charcoal stoves. In rural areas, families cook using three-stove fires. As a consequence, Liberia greatly benefits from a clean cookstove program.
Envirofit
Energy-efficient Cookstoves
Carbonibus is running the first cookstove program in Liberia, delivering 13,000 charcoal cookstoves designed and manufactured by Envirofit, one of the market leaders in clean and energy-efficient cook stoves.
The clean cookstoves distributed provide several advantages for families in Liberia, including reduced fuel consumption which means that each household saves up to US$100 per year.
Positive Social Impact for Liberia
Co-benefits
Carbonibus cookstove program in Liberia is having a positive impact on the environment and on the local population, supporting Liberia’s journey towards multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals.
UN Goal 1
No Poverty
In Monrovia and in Monserrado county, the most common fuel is charcoal. With our stoves families can use the cash saved every week for their development, igniting a virtuous cycle out of poverty.
UN Goal 3
Good Health and Wellbeing
Exposure to smoke from cooking fires remains one of the predominant causes of pollution-related disease and death in Liberia. Clean cooking has a positive impact on the entire household's health, particularly women and children.
UN Goal 5
Gender Quality
In rural Liberia, women spend up to 10 hours a day collecting fuel and up to 4 hours a day cooking. By moving to energy-efficient stoves, women can spend more time in income-generating activities.
UN Goal 8
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Carbonibus builds and funds sustainable local businesses in Liberia that distribute our clean cookstoves, employing and training many Liberians.
UN Goal 12
Ensure sustainable production and consumption patters
Using Environfit energy-efficient cookstove, Liberian families can cook and consume food they like reducing their impact on Upper Guinea Rainforest and on other local ecosystems.
UN Goal 15
Life of land
Liberia’s Upper Guinea Forest is home to incredible biodiversity but the fuel used for cooking contributes to the forest degradation. Reducing fuel consumption helps preserve the wildlife habitats of Liberia’s Upper Guinea Forest.
UN Goal 2
Zero Hunger
Many families are forced to trade food for fuel to cook. As the amount of fuel required for cooking goes down, familities can afford better meals.
UN Goal 4
Quality of Education
Girls in rural Liberia spend many hours a day helping their families look for wood for cooking. This chore prevents them from having any time for their education.
UN Goal 7
Affordable and clean energy
Traditional cookstoves used in Liberia need a great deal of fuel to work, generating several tons of CO2 emissions per year. Environfit energy-efficient cook stoves allow families to save money on fuel, reducing carbon emissions at the same time.
UN Goal 11
Sustainable cities and communities
Reduction of fuel consumption through the usage of efficient cook stoves makes both urban and rural communities in Liberia more sustainable, as there is less competition over limited resources.
UN Goal 13
Climate Action
The highly efficient stoves Carbonnibus is distributing in Liberia reduce fuel consumption by 30–60%, cutting both carbon dioxide and black carbon emissions.