Market Driven Approach needed to Combat Indoor Air Pollution
Indoor air pollution remains a major concern for 25 million households despite a number of initiatives aimed at addressing it. Poor indoor air quality due to traditional cooks stoves exposes lactating and young children to high health risks. The World Bank in partnership with Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) finalized the study on the indoor air pollution problem in Bangladesh. The study highlighted the need for market-driven approach for sustainable introduction to improved cook-stoves and biogas.
The World Health Organization (WHO, 2007) estimates that as much as 3.6% of the total burden of disease in Bangladesh is attributed to exposures to indoor air pollution; 32,000 children below five years of age die annually due to acute lower respiratory infections, and 14,000 adults die due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thus, there is an immediate need to address indoor air pollution at both policy and grassroots levels.
This study has explored options for developing a large scale improved cookstoves program to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution in Bangladesh. The study made an evaluation of existing programs and looked into the international experience on improved stoves, and the lessons from successful interventions of achieving near total sanitation in. The lessons from the total sanitation campaign and other successful improved cookstove approaches employed around the world provide insights for making recommendations for a large scale improved stoves program in Bangladesh.
To reduce exposure to indoor air pollution and make the rural household energy program in Bangladesh sustainable, a market-driven model is needed that allows for the growth of entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises on improved cook-stoves and biogas through intensive training and capacity building and micro-credit assistance. The Union Parishads and community-based organizations need to be involved to facilitate such programs.
The recommended measures from this study can only be implemented if the findings of the report are widely disseminated and linked to the national development priorities. A draft report has been submitted to the Government and report findings will be disseminated in consultation with the Govt. focusing on implementation of the report recommendations in accordance with national priorities.
The World Bank had undertaken this study on the request of Government of Bangladesh during the period 2006-2009. The study was conducted in a highly participatory process that involved several departments of the Government of Bangladesh, donors, non-government organizations, local government officials, academics/researchers, entrepreneurs and last but not least, the communities. The five draft technical reports on which the present report is based are available at the LGED from last year and a discussion workshop with wide ranging participation was organized by LGED and the World Bank in 2007.
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