Partnership for Clean Indoor Air www.PCIAonline.org The Challenge Some three billion people worldwide burn traditional biomass (e.g., wood, dung, crop residues) and coal indoors for home cooking and heating. The number of people using these fuels is expected to rise substantially by 2020. According to the World Health Organization, this widespread use results in the premature deaths of an estimated 1.6 million people each year from breathing elevated levels of indoor smoke, with women and children being most significantly affected. Indoor air pollution from household energy ranks as the fourth leading health risk in poor developing countries. Breathing elevated levels of indoor smoke from home cooking and heating practices more than doubles a child's risk of serious respiratory infection and may also be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (e.g., stillbirth and low-weight babies). In response to this challenge, founding governments and organizations launched the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September 2002. The Partnership's Mission More than 120 public and private organizations have joined the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air and are contributing their resources and expertise to improve health, livelihood, and quality of life by reducing exposure to indoor air pollution, primarily among women and children, from household energy use. The Partnership is focusing on four priority areas: >• Social/Behavioral Barriers >• Local Market Development * Technology Design > Health Effects Our Approach Pilot Projects — Partners are funding projects in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to identify and demonstrate effective approaches for increasing the use of clean, reliable, affordable, efficient, and safe home cooking and heating practices that reduce people's exposure to indoor air pollution. Design and Performance Guidelines - In collaboration with Engineers in Technical and Humanitarian Opportunities of Service, the Partnership is developing guidance for the design and performance of improved home cooking and heating technology. The guidance will assist a wide range of organizations which are developing and promoting improved fuels and stoves throughout the world. Health and Exposure Assessment - In March 2004, the Partnership held a workshop with more than 30 leading health and indoor air pollution experts to refine protocols for health and exposure assessments. When completed in 2005, organizations around the world will have access to a catalogue of methods to document the impact of interventions. Capacity Building - The Partnership is providing in- depth technical training in community outreach and education, stove development and performance, market development, and exposure monitoring. The Partnership is also supporting the direct exchange within regions of experiences among users/cooks, researchers, entrepreneurs, project implementers, and program directors. Scale Up — The Partnership will evaluate successful approaches and models for conducting outreach and education, developing local businesses and markets, and monitoring exposure reductions. The goals are to integrate these components, and to scale up projects that promote improved cooking and heating practices that are more efficient, meet users' needs, reduce exposures, and can be produced locally. ------- What You Can Do > Join the Partnership online at www.PCIAonline.org. *• Share information and best practices from your work with the Partnership. * Participate in partnership workshops and activities. *• Utilize Partnership protocols and guidance in your household energy and health programs. The Partners Countries Canada, China, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States Academia, Non-Governmental Organizations, Private Industry All-China Youth Federation, Appropriate Rural Technology Institute, Aprovecho Research Center, Asia Regional Cookstove Program, Asociacion Hondurena para el Desarollo, Barendra Advancement Integrated Committee, Baylor University, Cascade Medical and Stove Teams, Center for Entrepreneurship in International Health and Development, Center for Sustainable Energy Technology, Centre for Appropriate Technology — CAT Cameroon, Centre for Household Energy and Environment, Centre for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technologies, Centre for Rural Technology, Centre de Desarrollo con Energia Solar, China Association of Rural Energy Industry, Climate Care, Colorado State University Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Development Alternatives, East- West Center, Eco Ltd, Ecofogao Industria de Fogoes Ltda, Energy and Development Action/DR Congo, Energy Research Centre, Energy Systems, Engineers in Technical and Humanitarian Opportunities of Service, Environment Protection for Rural Development Organisation, EnvironmentNEPAL, Foundation for Communication Initiatives, Global Environment and Technology Foundation, Grupo Interdisciplinario de Tecnologia Rural Apropiada A.C., Health Effects Institute, HELPS International, Indian Institute ofTechnology Delhi, Indian Women Scientists' Association, Integrated Development Association, Integrated Research and Action for Development, Integrated Rural Development Initiatives, Interface Foundation, International Energy Initiative, Iowa State University- Thermal Systems Virtual Engineering Group, Joyline T.M. Tawha, Korean Society for Indoor Environment, Larson Consulting, LPG Association of Southern Africa, M/S Little Flower Hydro Systems, Nedwa, New Dawn Engineering, Peter A. Sam, Planete Bois, Practical Action, Practical Action Bangladesh, Project Gaia, Prolena, Resource Efficient Agricultural Production — Canada, Resources for the Future, Rural Energy Development Programme, Shell Foundation, Shri Jagdamba Samiti, Solar Cookers International, Solar Household Energy, Inc., Solare Briicke e.V., Stewart Craine, Stokes Consulting Group for Dometic AB, Sunseed Tanzania Trust, SunSmile, Sustainable Energy Africa, Sustainable Harvest International, Sustainable Technology Adaptive Research and Implementation Center, T R Miles — Technical Consultant, Tanzania Traditional Energy Development and Environment Organisation, Technology Development and Transfer Centre, Tezpur University, The Asian Alliance of Appropriate Technology Practitioners, Inc., The Energy and Resources Institute, The Nature Conservancy China Program, Trees, Water & People, University of California, Berkley — Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, University of Dayton — ETHOS Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Leicester — University of Gondar, University of Liverpool — Department of Public Health, University of Nairobi, USCAM Corporation, Village Education Resource Center, West Negros College — Improved Cook Stove Center, Winrock International, Winrock International Nepal, Women for Sustainable Development, World LP Gas Association International Organizations Austrian Development Cooperation, Commission for Central American Development, Pan American Health Organization, Regional Programme to Promote Household and Alternative Energies in the Sahel: PREDAS, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UN Development Programme, UN Environment Programme, World Bank, World Health Organization To learn more about the Partnership and how it is improving indoor air in homes around the world, visit www.PCIAonline.org or contact: Brenda Doroski Tel: +1 202-343-9764 doroski.brenda@epa.gov John Mitchell Tel: +1 202-343-9031 mitchell. j ohn@epa.gov U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (6609J) Washington, D.C. 20460 USA Photo credits: Page 1: Curt Carnemark/The World Bank and Ray Witlin/The World Bank Page 2: Curt Carnemark/The World Bank S-EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA 402-F-06-058 June 2006 ------- |