2007 Chennai Press Releases
International Clean Indoor Air Meet Begins In Bangalore Today
25 nations, including United States, attending March 20-23 Forum
March 20, 2007
BANGALORE, March 20, 2007 -- The Partnership for Clean Indoor Air is hosting one of the world’s largest gatherings on household energy and health at its 3rd Biennial Forum here March 20 – 23, 2007. More than 120 household energy and health leaders from 25 countries will gather to report on results and achievements. John Beale, Deputy Assistant Administrator of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will represent the United States.
Forum participants will commit to future goals to reduce the health, environmental, and social burdens faced by three billion people who burn biomass fuels and coal indoors for cooking and heating, including 90% of rural Indian households. This health crisis is particularly pervasive in India, where exposure to cooking smoke results in 400,000 to 500,000 deaths on a national scale annually.
According to Deputy Assistant Administrator John Beale: “We know that indoor smoke from cooking is the fourth worst health risk in poor developing countries -- after malnutrition, unsafe sex, and lack of clean water and sanitation. But we also know that this issue can be solved. That is why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is committed to the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air.”
International organizations such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Shell Foundation, and World Health Organization, are working together with local Indian organizations like the Society for Development Alternative, Appropriate Rural Technology Institute and The Energy Research Institute to spearhead the transition to more efficient cooking and heating technologies, fuels and practices.
Director of Shell Foundation Kurt Hoffman said: “No single organization can tackle a problem that affects half the world’s population. This is why working in partnership with others - through the PCIA and this event - is crucial. “
For more information, or to join the Partnership, visit http://www.pciaonline.org/.
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