Dependence on woodfuels for energy in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) presents significant challenges for decision-making in sustainable development, particularly regarding forest management, energy security, and livelihoods. More than 80% of urban households in SSA use charcoal as their main source of cooking energy, and demand is projected to increase. The charcoal market provides urban households an affordable, convenient, reliable and potentially sustainable source of energy. Charcoal is also a major source of income for rural households in areas with access to urban markets, and it is relatively easy to transport, distribute, and store. However, charcoal production is associated with deforestation and forest degradation, negative impacts on watersheds, soil erosion, soil infertility and food insecurity, along with contributing to carbon emissions. Charcoal and other solid biomass uses are also associated with poor energy services and household air pollution which contributes to millions of premature deaths globally. Access to electricity is limited and unreliable, even in large cities, and the use of electricity for cooking is relatively expensive. Given evidence that demand for charcoal in Africa is increasing with population growth and urbanization, charcoal is likely to remain the major primary source of energy for most urban dwellers for at least another generation.
Results/Conclusions
This study uses a nationally representative dataset of urban households in Zambia to examine household cooking fuel choice patterns and to quantify the effect of access to electricity on household charcoal consumption. The study is among the first in SSA to use nationally representative data to analyze urban household cooking fuel choice behavior. The study provides one of the first systematic and statistically rigorous estimations of the relationship between access to electricity and charcoal consumption in southern Africa. We find charcoal to be the most prevalent cooking fuel, for both households with and without electricity access. Proportionately more charcoal users reside in low income residential areas. Using a two-stage econometric estimation procedure that accounts for endogeneity of access to electricity, we find that on average, households with access to electricity consume 54% less charcoal than their counterparts without access. Further, our results indicate that charcoal consumption tends to increase with income, but this increase diminishes as income increases further. Other socio-demographic variables such as age, education and household size are also important in influencing charcoal consumption choices. In conclusion, we discuss implications for interventions aimed at promoting cleaner energy sources and efficient charcoal use for cooking among urban households.