Nearly half the world's populationand about 81 percent of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) householdsrely on wood-based biomass energy (fuel wood and charcoal)for cooking. This degree of reliance is far greater than inany other region. While the use of biomass fuels in China,India and much of the developing world has peaked or will doso in the near future, SSA's consumption will eitherremain at very high levels or even grow over the next fewdecades. Population growth, coupled with strong urbanizationdynamics and relative price changes of alternative fuels,offset the important achievements made over the past decadeby significant investments in energy access, rural and urbanelectrification, off-grid energy developments, and thepromotion of alternative energy sources. With increasingeconomic development, the demand for energy is increasing aswell and consumers depend on a broader portfolio of energysources to satisfy growing energy needs. While electricityand other energy sources are needed to satisfy additionalenergy needs emerging with economic development, a vastmajority of Sub-Saharan African consumers continue to usewood based biomass energy for cooking. Especiallyelectricity is not regarded a suitable alternative forcooking given equipment and use costs. Biomass burning incook stoves also emits black carbon (BC) as part of visiblesmoke, which is particulate matter that results fromincomplete combustion. Climate science now views BC as thesecond or third largest warming agent after carbon dioxide,alongside methane. In the case of biomass cooking, thewarming effects of BC and the cooling effects of organiccarbon that is also emitted during the burning appear to beclosely balanced. Given the present uncertainty about thenet impact, additional research is currently underway. Blackcarbon has also an impact at the regional level: itaccelerates melting of ice and snow, and contributes toregional pollution which can alter climatic conditions andprecipitation patterns over a wide area. This paperadvocates that any policy reform should entail a combinationof clear rules, transparent enforcement, strong incentivesand awareness-creation/capacity development. Keystakeholders and the general public need guidance by way ofinformation campaigns, training, and demonstration projectsto ensure that awareness-deficits or false perceptions donot curtail policy implementation. The bureaucratic andadministrative barriers e.g. overcomplicated forestmanagement planning requirements, complex fiscal systems andland tenure procedures may inhibit development and thuswarrant critical reflection. The regulatory framework needsto integrate externalities in order to promote adequatepricing of charcoal, and thus enhance regional economies.
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