- COP30 launched the Platform for Clean Cooking in Schools (PAS) to provide safe, sustainable cooking for 450 million children.
- Led by SEforALL, WFP, and partners, the platform mobilises policy, finance, and implementation, targeting global scale by 2030.
Leaders and partners launched the Platform for Clean Cooking in Schools at COP30 to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking solutions in schools worldwide. The initiative links energy and food system transitions, aiming to mobilise policy, finance, and practical action.
The platform supports the School Meals Coalition, a global alliance ensuring healthy meals for children, and positions schools as catalysts for community-wide energy transitions. Partners include Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), the World Food Programme (WFP), UKAid’s Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) Programme, the Government of Iceland, the Middle East Green Initiative – Forward7, the Global Platform for Action (GPA), and Lightrock.
Schools feed more than 450 million children daily and are the second-largest consumers of biomass after households. Many still use firewood and charcoal, exposing students and staff to harmful smoke while contributing to deforestation and climate change. Clean cooking in schools offers a scalable solution to deliver nutritious meals while reducing health risks and carbon emissions.
Key speakers at the launch included COP30 Climate High-Level Champion Dan Ioshpe; Iceland’s Climate Ambassador María Erla Marelsdóttir; Fiji Assistant Minister Naisa T. Tuinaceva; Tanzania’s Deputy Permanent Secretary Peter Msoffe; Forward7 Program Director Mohammed Al-Tayyar; SEforALL CEO Damilola Ogunbiyi; WFP Director Stanlake Samkange; School Meals Coalition Secretariat Head María José Rojas; MECS Research Director Ed Brown; GPA Lead Iwona Bisaga; and Lightrock Executive Director Hanaan Marwah.
Speakers emphasised that schools can drive health, environmental, and gender benefits, accelerate the adoption of modern energy, and serve as demonstration sites for community-wide clean cooking transitions. The platform will initially scale in 10 countries, aiming to reach global coverage by 2030.