Clean fuel may refer to type of fuel used fortransport or a type of fuel used forcooking and lighting. With regard to cooking, theSustainable Development Goal 7 aims to "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." Clean fuel there is defined by the emission rate targets and specific fuel recommendations (i.e. against unprocessedcoal andkerosene) included in the normative guidanceWHO guidelines forindoor air quality. Clean fuel is one component ofsustainable energy.
Clean fuels used fortransport can bebiofuels that have lowergreenhouse gas emission rates, such asethanol orbiodiesel biogas.Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is another example.
Clean fuels used forcooking and lighting can includebiogas, LPG,electricity,ethanol,natural gas. Furthermore,clean-burning stoves,solar cookers and alcohol-fuel stoves are cooking solutions that typically deliver high performance in terms of reducingindoor air pollution.[2]: 45 This is often the case even regardless of the type ofcookstove used. These cooking solutions are often considered “modern” or “clean” solutions and are collectively called BLEENS.[3]
Sustainable Development Goal 7 is one of 17Sustainable Development Goals established by theUnited Nations General Assembly in 2015. It aims to "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." One of its indicators is: "Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology" (Indicator 7.1.2). The indicator is calculated as the number of people using clean fuels and technologies for cooking, heating and lighting divided by total population reporting that any cooking, heating or lighting, expressed as percentage. "Clean fuel" is defined by the emission rate targets and specific fuel recommendations (i.e. against unprocessedcoal andkerosene) included in the normative guidanceWHO guidelines forindoor air quality.[4][5]
There remain some 2.8 billion people who rely on unclean, polluting fuels and technologies for cooking. This includes traditionalstoves paired withcharcoal, coal, crop waste,dung,kerosene andwood.[2]: 45 The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution from cooking causes 3.8 million deaths annually.[6] These fuels also emit significant amounts ofblack carbon andmethane, which are potent contributors toclimate change, in addition to carbon dioxide.