How health and climate benefit from Microenergy CreditsOver 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 Microenergy Credits to households, families and, small businesses they can purchase energy-efficient products like cookstoves and solar lights at an affordable price.
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 as well through verifiable emission reductions.
How does climate action with social impact projects 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 lights, 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 kerosene lamps, which are a frequent cause of fire accidents. Social impact projects in the ClimatePartner portfolio are registered with international standards.
