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A study in the Kibera informal settlements of Nairobi assessed emissions of CO, CO2, and PM2.5 from charcoal, kerosene, LPG, and electricity, finding that charcoal and kerosene produce the highest pollution levels while ambient PM2.5 levels significantly exceed WHO guidelines.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the disproportionate impact of air pollution on children under five, highlighting how structural economic dependencies on fossil fuels and polluting infrastructure drive a global environmental justice crisis. It details the physiological vulnerabilities of children, the link between maternal exposure and lifelong chronic diseases, and provides case studies from South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, and Bangladesh to illustrate the specific drivers of child mortality and morbidity.

This research paper details a large-scale study of 253 in-home emission tests in rural India, comparing rocket-style biomass stoves, forced draft gasifiers, and LPG stoves to analyze their impact on indoor air quality and the climate.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the efficacy of low-cost modifications to open wood fires in marginalized communities in the Global South to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes a small-scale study in peri-urban Kenya using service design, behavioural insights, and social-ecological systems thinking to evaluate the adoption of the Mimi Moto advanced biomass pellet cookstove. The study identifies distinct user archetypes and highlights systemic gaps in the cookstove value chain, particularly regarding fuel availability and after-sales support.

This study evaluated the impact of replacing traditional three-stone fires with improved rocket mud stoves in 49 homes in Western Kenya, focusing on carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations and the viability of CO as a proxy for PM2.5.

This research paper, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute, synthesizes two studies commissioned by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation to evaluate the impact of health-focused marketing messages on the purchase of clean cookstoves in Cambodia and Kenya. Both studies concluded that health messaging had a minimal effect on stove purchases, with price and functional benefits remaining the primary drivers of adoption.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) details a case study in Kiambu County, Kenya, exploring the behavioural drivers affecting the adoption of advanced biomass pellet cookstoves (specifically the Philips model). Using a service design methodology, the research identifies that while trust in local microfinance partners like the Visionary Empowerment Programme (VEP) facilitates initial acquisition, long-term adoption is hindered by a lack of user-centric value propositions, poor fuel supply chains for pellets, and a failure to address the diverse cooking needs of households, leading to 'stove stacking' rather than full transition.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the health impacts and adoption rates of improved cookstoves in Central America. It highlights a gap between laboratory emission reductions and actual personal exposure reductions, identifies key drivers for successful technology uptake, and recommends the establishment of standardized performance measures and national certification bodies to improve public health outcomes.