Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Most African countries rely on biomass fuels like charcoal and firewood to meet their daily energy needs. Kenya is no exception, with biomass fuel being the primary source of energy for approximately 60% of the population. However, the government has increased its efforts to combat deforestation, which has resulted in a scarcity of these biomass fuels, driving up the prices. Another issue with biomass fuels like charcoal and firewood is that they contribute to indoor pollution, which is linked to respiratory illnesses. These respiratory illnesses are associated with about 14,000 deaths a year. After evaluating the fuel/energy crisis in Kenya, Ocean Youth Innovators sought to find an alternative source of energy that is affordable and safe in 2022. Currently the organization is creating awareness about briquettes being a better option over other biomass fuel with the ultimate goal of production.

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How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Reduces GHGs (e.g., projects that reduce sources of GHGs, such as through efficiency or other changes in consumption)

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Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

A woman's role in the traditional African setting is to prepare meals for the family. This role includes the additional responsibility of locating fuel that will be used to meet the family's energy needs. The most affordable source of fuel in impoverished communities is biomass (firewood), which women and children collect in forests. Only a small number of women can afford charcoal for their energy needs. However, the government has imposed stringent rules to reduce deforestation, resulting in a scarcity of biomass fuels, driving up prices. At the current prices, fewer and fewer families can afford biomass fuels. Another facet of the problem with the energy sector in Kenya is the resulting indoor pollution from burning of biomass fuels (charcoal and firewood). Burning of biomass
fuel releases a host of flue gases (NOx, CO, SOx), particulate matter, and greenhouse gases which have a negative impact on health. These diseases are associated with many respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Such diseases are responsible for about 14,000 deaths in Kenya of which a higher percentage are women and young children. This is because this population group faces the highest rates of exposure to indoor pollution as they cook in enclosed spaces. Briquettes burn cleaner and are cheaper than the alternative biomass fuels.
Providing briquettes to women will not only empower them economically, but also improve their health prospects because they will be facing less indoor pollution.

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Mission Statement:

Ocean Youth Innovators was established in 2022 to advocate for environmental protection, cleanups, and youth empowerment. The organization is currently active in Mombasa (Kenya's coastal region) and Nairobi, with a regional office at Kenyatta University's Chandaria Center. As previously stated, the organization is focused on projects that promote environmental protection and youth empowerment. Some of the current activities of the organization include tree planting in Kenya's coastal region, provision of electric cabs (tuk tuks), beach cleanup in the coastal region, and raising awareness about the benefits of using briquettes as an alternative fuel source. We hope to establish a briquette manufacturing plant in Mombasa to serve the coastal region.
The briquettes, developed in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Mombasa, will replace the biomass fuel currently used in schools and parishes. The project provides an opportunity to create job opportunities for young people, fulfilling one of our visions of youth empowerment.