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Fossil-fuel burning appliances in the US contribute significantly to outdoor and indoor air pollution, climate change, and public health disparities. Gas appliances are particularly problematic, emitting more than twice as much NOX as gas power plants. RMI proposes that the EPA implement a NOX standard of performance under Clean Air Act Section 111(b), requiring all new appliances to be electric by 2030. This transition could avoid over 500,000 tons of NOX and 14,400 tons of PM2.5 annually by 2045, potentially saving over 3,750 lives per year and providing $21 billion in annual economic benefits. The document emphasizes that electric appliances are cost-effective and that policies should include incentives to ensure low-income consumers can access these technologies.

Cooking poverty affects 3.83 billion people across 71 countries, causing over four million deaths annually. The report argues that the current 'clean cooking' sector is fragmented and underfunded, with an annual funding gap of approximately $10 billion. It proposes a shift toward the term 'cooking poverty' to better reflect the scale of the crisis and suggests a 'Playbook' to centralize sector knowledge. Key recommendations include merging electrification and cooking efforts, utilizing carbon markets for small business finance, and adopting an incremental approach to transition households from unimproved to modern cooking.

The report finds that LPG subsidies in Jharkhand are highly regressive, with wealthier households receiving a disproportionate share of benefits due to their higher consumption levels. Testing of volumetric targeting and differential subsidies for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries failed to significantly improve subsidy incidence, although volumetric limits reduced overall government expenditure. The authors recommend mapping subsidy equity across India and exploring smarter indicators, such as motorbike ownership, to better identify and exclude better-off consumers.

The document analyzes how socio-economic disadvantages drive air pollution and increase vulnerability to its health impacts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighting the specific risks faced by women, the elderly, and Roma communities.

The document examines the failure of South Africa's energy policies to ensure affordable electricity for the poor. It highlights that poor households spend up to 17% of their income on energy and identifies two main causes: the absence of a formal definition of 'affordable energy' and the systemic failure of municipalities to distribute Free Basic Electricity (FBE) grants. Specifically, in 2019, while the national budget funded basic services for 9.8 million households, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving 5.4 million eligible households without the benefit and resulting in a loss of R6 billion in value.

The document argues that the promise of affordable electricity for all in South Africa, established by the Energy Act of 1998, remains unfulfilled. It identifies two primary causes: the lack of a clear government definition for 'affordable energy' and the failure of municipalities to distribute Free Basic Electricity (FBE) grants to eligible low-income households. Research indicates a significant gap in 2019, where national budget support was provided for 9.8 million households to receive basic services, but only 2 million households actually received free basic electricity through their municipalities.

The report argues that South Africa's promise of affordable electricity for the poor remains unfulfilled 20 years after the 1998 White Paper on Energy. It highlights that poor households spend a disproportionate 17% of their income on electricity and that the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program, which provides 50 kWh per month, is severely under-implemented. The document claims that in 2019, while national funding supported 9.8 million households for free services, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving over 5.4 million eligible poor households without the benefit and resulting in an estimated R6 billion in diverted funds.

The document argues that South Africa's energy distribution system actively exacerbates poverty and inequality by failing to deliver on the affordable access promises of the 1998 White Paper on Energy. It identifies a critical conflict of interest where municipalities prioritize financial viability and revenue collection over the provision of Free Basic Electricity (FBE), leading to millions of funded households being denied benefits. The author contends that a 'just transition' to clean energy must include a 'just distribution' to prevent the entrenchment of a two-tier energy system.

The document argues that the goal of affordable energy in South Africa has not been met, leaving poor households to spend up to 17% of their income on energy and forcing many to use dangerous sources like paraffin and coal. It identifies two primary causes: the lack of a formal government standard defining 'affordable energy' and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy. Specifically, the briefing highlights a significant gap in FBE implementation, noting that in 2019, while the national budget funded free basic services for 9.8 million households, only 2 million actually received free electricity from their municipalities. This resulted in 5.4 million eligible households missing out on benefits valued at R6 billion.

The report highlights that 600 million Africans lack electricity, with sub-Saharan Africa being the most affected. It argues that while legacy megaprojects like the Inga 3 dam and Stiegler's Gorge are financially and environmentally risky, decentralized renewable energy (DREs) and public-private partnerships offer more sustainable paths to electrification. The text also examines the geopolitical influence of Russia's nuclear diplomacy and China's investment in coal-fired plants, while noting the severe health impacts of biomass reliance among the rural poor.

The briefing examines the gap between South Africa's policy goals for affordable energy and the reality for low-income households. It identifies two primary failures: the lack of a clear definition for "affordable energy" and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program. The document reveals that in 2019, while national grants covered 9.8 million households for basic services, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving approximately 5.4 million eligible poor households without the benefit and resulting in a loss of R6 billion in 2019 alone.

Urban air pollution in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) poses a severe risk to children's health and development, with significant burdens found in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Children are more vulnerable due to their developing bodies and higher inhalation rates per unit of body weight. Key pollution sources include inefficient biomass combustion for cooking and heating, vehicle emissions, and waste burning, with residents of informal settlements facing the highest risks. The document advocates for integrating air quality management into climate change commitments (NDCs), investing in monitoring infrastructure—including citizen science—and adopting multi-sectoral interventions that target pollution sources rather than just symptoms.

The research evaluates in-home emissions from rocket-style biomass stoves, forced draft gasifiers, and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) stoves in rural India. Utilizing a sample of 253 in-home emission tests—the largest of its kind and the first large-scale study of LPG stoves—the study examines the impact of these stoves on household air pollution and the climate, specifically regarding the release of carbon dioxide and methane.

The research examines low-cost modifications to open wood fires in marginalized communities where clean-cooking fuels are inaccessible. While interventions like rock beds and ceramic or metal grates reduce fuelwood consumption and emissions, they are unlikely to reduce the adverse health impacts associated with household air pollution.

The document examines the slow adoption of cleaner cookstoves in peri-urban Kenya, arguing that a combination of service design, behavioral insights, and social-ecological systems thinking is necessary to better align stove development with user needs. Based on a study of advanced biomass pellet cookstoves near Nairobi, it recommends tailoring interventions to specific user archetypes, stabilizing the biomass pellet fuel supply chain through subsidies, and establishing localized technical support and repair networks.

The report details a study in rural Kenya where community members imagined a future of fully electric cooking and worked backward to identify the necessary steps to achieve it. Participants linked electric cooking to broader development goals, including improved health, gender equality, and infrastructure. The proposed pathway involves a gradual transition from fuelwood to improved stoves and LPG before reaching full electrification, driven by community savings, civic engagement, and government support.

The document examines the adoption of the Mimi Moto advanced biomass cookstove in peri-urban Kenya, identifying two distinct user archetypes: 'money savers' and 'convenience seekers'. While both groups experienced declines in satisfaction due to inconsistent fuel availability, 'convenience seekers' showed higher overall usage. The study highlights a systemic gap where stakeholders focus on initial awareness and onboarding rather than the long-term 'using' phase, recommending stabilized fuel infrastructure and tailored after-sales support to improve adoption.

The report finds that kerosene subsidies in Nigeria failed poor women, who paid 2–6 times the official price and faced hardships during shortages. The 2016 subsidy removal further stressed household incomes, leading women in rural areas to rely more on inferior biomass fuels. The report recommends against reinstating kerosene subsidies, suggesting instead that funds be redirected toward social protection programs and the financing of clean-burning cookstoves.

The report finds that kerosene subsidies in Bangladesh are largely ineffective, as official price cuts are not passed to consumers and many poor households remain unaware of the subsidies. While women are primarily exposed to the health risks of kerosene and biomass cooking, men dominate energy purchasing and decision-making. The study suggests that instead of reforming the kerosene subsidy, the government should shift support toward clean energy alternatives like solar PV and grid electricity, which 69% of households believe would most benefit women.

The report finds that kerosene subsidies in Nigeria were largely ineffective, as most low-income households paid significantly above the official price and women faced long queues and safety risks from adulterated fuel. The 2016 removal of these subsidies further strained women's budgets, pushing many in rural areas back toward biomass for cooking, which increases exposure to indoor air pollution and time spent collecting wood. While women often control daily energy choices, men typically own the electronic appliances. The report recommends against returning to kerosene or LPG subsidies, suggesting instead a shift toward technology-neutral clean cooking support and social protection programs targeted at female heads of households.