Improved Cookstoves in India
Cleaner, safer, and more efficient cookstoves delivered to rural households across India to reduce emissions and improve community wellbeing.
This project distributes improved cookstoves to low-income households in Assam and Madhya Pradesh, replacing traditional open-fire cooking with cleaner, more efficient technology. By reducing fuelwood consumption, enhancing indoor air quality, and easing pressure on local forests, the project delivers meaningful climate, health, and livelihood benefits across rural communities.
Location: Assam and Madhya Pradesh, India
Project type: Carbon Avoidance – Clean Cooking
Project impacts
Climate & environment
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions over the project lifetime, with an expected total reduction of 353,863 tCO₂e.
- Lowers household firewood consumption, easing pressure on local forests and helping prevent deforestation and degradation.
- Improves indoor air quality by reducing smoke exposure from traditional open-fire stoves.
- Protects local biodiversity by reducing fuelwood extraction from ecologically sensitive areas.
Social & economic
- Reduces the time and labour burden of collecting firewood, particularly for women and children.
- Improves respiratory health and overall wellbeing by decreasing exposure to harmful indoor smoke.
- Provides safer, faster, and cleaner cooking conditions for rural families.
- Supports local livelihoods through stove production, distribution, training, and ongoing monitoring.
- Ensures free access to clean cooking technology for low-income and underserved households.
This project contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, delivering measurable environmental and social outcomes.
Project details
In many rural regions of India, families continue to cook using traditional three-stone or mud stoves fuelled by firewood. These stoves have low thermal efficiency and generate significant smoke, contributing to deforestation and posing severe health risks.
To address these challenges, the project distributes energy-efficient, natural-draft cookstoves free of charge to households in Assam and Madhya Pradesh. As of 2023, more than 72,000 improved cookstoves have been deployed, each capable of converting over 36% of wood energy into usable heat.
The improved stoves significantly reduce wood consumption, lower CO₂ emissions, and create healthier indoor environments. Local partners support stove distribution, deliver training on proper use and maintenance, and ensure that communities receive long-term benefits.
Collaborations
Anthesis supports this initiative through the purchase of verified carbon credits issued under the VCS, helping to scale clean cooking access across underserved communities.
As a founding member of ICROA, Anthesis adheres to the highest integrity standards in the voluntary carbon market. All supported carbon projects undergo regular independent audits to verify climate impact, social benefits, and robust monitoring processes.
Quality criteria
All Anthesis-supported carbon removal projects undergo independent verification to confirm permanent carbon storage and measurable environmental benefits. Projects must demonstrate alignment with UN SDGs 12, 13, and 15, promote soil and ecosystem health, and deliver robust climate and nature outcomes.
Through rigorous auditing, monitoring, and adherence to international standards, Anthesis ensures all projects provide credible, lasting impact for both climate and local communities.
- Verified under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) to ensure measurable and additional emissions reductions.
- Regular independent verification ensures environmental integrity, transparent reporting, and long-term project performance.
- Strong community engagement and end-user training ensure sustained use of the improved cookstoves and ongoing benefits for households.
Project facts
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