Every year, smoke from traditional stoves fueled by wood is responsible for 1.5 million deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia are particularly affected. Now a new report from the World Health Organization makes the business case for investing in cleaner household fuels. The report claims that $13 billion dollars per year would halve the number of people worldwide cooking with solid fuels by 2015, resulting in a payback of $91 billion dollars per year. This seven-fold return on investment is a result of savings gained not only from less illness and death, but of less time spent ill, collecting fuel and cooking.

"Making cleaner fuels and improved stoves available to millions of poor people in developing countries will reduce child mortality and improve women's health," said Dr LEE Jong-wook, WHO Director-General. "In addition to the health gains, household energy programmes can help lift families out of poverty and accelerate development progress."

The report concludes, “With more time available, children would do better at school, while their mothers could engage in childcare, agriculture or other income-generating activities as a way to break the vicious cycle of poverty.”