Health, energy security or people's jobs? Understanding cooking transition narratives and energy justice implications in Tanzania

Abstract

The achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 ‘affordable and clean energy for all’ is incomplete with 1.8 billion people worldwide still dependent on biomass for cooking, with detrimental effects on health, well-being and environment. The situation is especially acute in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study explores cooking transition narratives in the Tanzanian context. The recent policy initiative towards clean cooking from the Tanzanian government provides the opportunity to investigate the main actors and perspectives that set the scene for clean cooking, and justice implications. Drawing on interviews with relevant stakeholders and analysis of key strategic documents we find that the current narratives highlight technical, financial and environmental dimensions, but has little emphasis on the end-users. This provides limited understanding of the practices that underpin cooking, and people's ability to transition to clean cooking technologies. In the future, there is a need to consult the end-users to ensure a successful, just and sustainable transition.