Projectos eco

How health and climate benefit from microcredits

Over 700 million people in India cook over open fire. However, the smoke produced by this method of cooking has serious health implications. Our carbon offset project aims to counteract this problem: By granting microcredits, consumers are enabled to purchase efficient cookstoves and solar lights.

Families buy the products locally at market price - a best practice from the microfinance sector, as giving products away for free would hit the local economy and lower the value of the products. Buying the products locally strengthens small businesses, with the project additionally supporting suppliers with training and start-up capital. And the climate benefits: Using the efficient products saves an average of 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

HOW DOES CLIMATE ACTION WITH SOCIAL IMPACT POJECTS WORK?

Social Impact projects include one or more technologies that create direct social added value in addition to climate action. Such projects involve the distribution of efficient cooking stoves, solar-powered light sources or drinking water purification:

Efficient cooking stoves make better use of the energy supplied and reduce the smoke produced when cooking over an open fire. A similar problem exists when households do not have access to clean drinking water, as the water must be boiled over an open fire first before it can be used without hesitation. Remedies include the provision of drinking water treatment aids, such as filters, or access to groundwater from wells. In addition, solar lights help to illuminate the rooms and replace expensive paraffin lamps, which are a frequent cause of fire accidents.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDG's)

SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere (The use of efficient cookstoves, for example, significantly reduces the need for firewood. The income saved here can be used to improve living conditions)

SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (The products promoted by the project make an important contribution to the health and well-being of households)

SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls (Improving health conditions and reducing workload, especially for women as they are often responsible for cooking and collecting firewood)

SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (The project supports local retailers with training and start-up capital, thus promoting the local economy)

SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (Efficient cookstoves and solar lights allow for more sustainable use of wood as fuel)

SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (The project saves an average of 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year)

Project Standard: Gold Standard VER (GS VER)

Technology: Social Impact

Region: Nationwide, India

Annual volume: 100.000 t CO2

Verified by: Gold Standard