WLGA & Clean Cooking Alliance Call on G20 to Implement Clean Cooking Infrastructure Investment Plan

Johannesburg (Nov. 21, 2025) — For the first time in the forum’s history, the G20 under South Africa’s presidency has elevated clean cooking as a standing item for discussion at the Summit. The World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA) and the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) have called for G20 members to approve and implement the Clean Cooking Infrastructure Investment Plan.

More than 2 billion people worldwide lack access to clean cooking technologies and fuels, according to the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group, with over half of this population concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. Universal access to clean cooking could be achieved within this decade through an annual global investment of 8 billion US dollars, of which US$4 billion would be specifically required for Africa, as outlined in the Clean Cooking Infrastructure Investment Plan.

During the final Energy Transitions Working Group and Ministerial Meetings that took place this month, consensus was not agreed on other energy transition issues; however, common ground was reached on elevating clean cooking onto the global energy agenda. Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa described the move as a “major victory” for Africa. The G20 is due to take place in Johannesburg from Nov. 22-23.

James Rockall, managing director and CEO of WLGA, said, “The G20’s decision to elevate clean cooking marks a historic inflection point that we hope will accelerate the rollout of clean cooking solutions across the Global South. We urge all G20 members to implement the Clean Cooking Infrastructure Plan through national funding and policy pursuits. This plan is the only viable global road map capable of delivering universal access to clean cooking this decade.”

Jillene Connors Belopolsky, chief of staff and chief external affairs officer of the Clean Cooking Alliance, said, “Last year, Brazil’s G20 presidency put clean cooking on the agenda, and South Africa has now locked it in as a standing priority. The Investment Plan gives countries a clear pathway to scale access: mobilizing finance, strengthening infrastructure and accelerating delivery for the 2 billion people still cooking with polluting fuels. To make real progress, we now need follow-through and finance. We encourage G20 members to formally adopt the plan and integrate it into national investment and energy strategies.”

The IEA’s World Energy Outlook released earlier this month reveals that progress on clean cooking access has decelerated in recent years. While 100 million people gained access to clean cooking in 2023, this represents a decline from 120 million in 2019. Accelerating this rate of change is crucial, as household air pollution from traditional cooking methods causes premature deaths, and transitioning to clean cooking solutions could reduce these fatalities by nearly two-thirds globally by 2040.

Lacking access to clean cooking leads to devastating consequences, including higher rates of respiratory illnesses, contributions to deforestation and environmental damage, and the enforcement of economic and social barriers. Roughly four in five people in Africa and 90% of schools relying on firewood or charcoal for cooking.

In the Global South, LPG offers a clean and cost-effective energy solution to communities deprived of access to grid electricity. This transformative fuel humanizes access to energy, creating substantial benefits for over a billion people — primarily women and girls — who reside in areas where reliance on unsustainable biomass and other hazardous fuels for cooking persists. This not only contributes to mitigating climate change but also enhances overall quality of life.