Zambia authorizes first carbon credits for clean cooking projects

The Ministry of Green Economy and Environment in Zambia issued a Letter of Authorization to the African developer BURN. This approval allows the company to generate carbon credits from its clean cooking activities for use in the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, known as CORSIA.

The authorization covers credits generated during the 2025 to 2030 national climate commitment period. This marks the first time Zambia has approved a project of this type.

The decision follows the Green Economy and Climate Change Act of 2024 and the nation's 2026 carbon market regulations, which require projects to meet standards for environmental integrity and national climate targets. BURN distributes high-efficiency cookstoves to help people move away from traditional fuels. The company says these appliances improve indoor air quality and protect forests by lowering carbon emissions.

CEO Peter Scott stated that carbon finance can help close the affordability gap for families who rely on inefficient cooking fuels. Zambia is currently building infrastructure to manage international carbon transactions. The government launched a national Carbon Registry in August to track carbon assets and support accounting under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. BURN works with partners like Key Carbon and Marex to manufacture and distribute these low-emission appliances across Africa.