On the 26th of January, we celebrate the International Day of Clean Energy. This day is internationally recognized by the United Nations, and you can read more about this day here. 

Within our global community of tree-planters and environmental protectors, we often hear about trees being cut for firewood. One story that comes to mind, is from Brigitte Ott, an Austrian lady who was involved in social work and tree planting in Tanzania. Brigitte told us that she helped a local school to plant trees, while at the same time helping them obtain gas cookers, so that they did not have to continue destroying the forest for firewood.

Considering this, let’s look a bit deeper into the topic of clean energy and cutting trees for firewood.

Why Cutting Trees for Firewood and Coal Is Not Clean Energy

“Clean energy” basically refers to energy that does not harm the environment and does not damage our health. Examples of clean energy are solar, wind, water (hydropower), and geothermal energy. Cutting trees for firewood or making coal (charcoal) is not clean energy, even though many people use it every day.

In many parts of the world, trees are cut down to use wood for cooking or heating. Some trees are also burned to make charcoal, which is used in homes and small businesses. These methods may look natural, but they cause serious environmental and health problems.

An example that comes to mind, is the nomadic Kalbeliya communities in the Thar desert of Rajasthan, India. These nomadic communities engage in cutting trees and making charcoal as a means of livelihood (alongside their traditional music, dance, and snake charming), using local shrubs like the thorny Kata tree. This labor-intensive process, involving building earthen mounds or kilns to carbonize wood for sale, provides vital income but also poses environmental concerns, especially with unsustainable harvesting

*The Kalbeliya chopping wood to make charcoal.

Why Firewood and Coal Are Not Clean Energy

First of all, burning wood and coal creates air pollution. When wood or charcoal burns, it releases smoke, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and small particles. These pollutants harm the air we breathe and increase climate change.

Secondly, trees take many years to grow, but they can be cut down in minutes! When trees are cut faster than they can grow back, the energy source is not renewable. So, clean energy should be renewable and sustainable.

And lastly, burning firewood and charcoal is simply inefficient. A lot of energy is lost as smoke and heat, which means that more wood is needed, which leads to more tree cutting. Thus, one can see this vicious cycle.

Environmental Impact of Cutting Trees for Firewood and Coal

Cutting trees has a strong negative impact on the environment. Let’s consider some of them:

1. Deforestation: When many trees are cut, our forests disappear. Forests are home to many sentient beings, and when forests are destroyed, these living beings lose their homes and may die

2. Climate Change: Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air. When trees are cut and burned, CO₂ goes back into the atmosphere. This increases global warming and climate change.

3. Soil and Water Problems: Tree roots hold soil in place. Without trees, soil can be washed away by rain. This causes floods, poor farmland, and dirty rivers. At the same time, the process of desertification is enhanced when trees are cut. We saw this with our friend Dah Ebbe and his community in Mauritania.

4. Health Problems: Smoke from firewood and charcoal causes breathing problems, eye pain, and heart disease. Women and children are often the most affected because they spend more time near cooking fires.

According to the World Health Organization:

Almost 2.1 billion people worldwide (around a quarter of the global population) cook with open fires or inefficient stoves fuelled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung, and crop waste), and coal, which generates harmful household air pollution. At current rates, only 78% of our global population is expected to have access to clean cooking by 2030, which leaves nearly 1.8 billion people still without clean cooking solutions!

**Refugees in Uganda gathering firewood, causing concern for deforestation

Better and Cleaner Alternatives

There are safer and cleaner ways to produce energy for cooking, heating, and electricity. Of course, these options may not always be possible for many of us, but we can at least consider them, and ways to work towards them:

1. Solar Energy: Solar cookers and solar panels use energy from the sun. They do not produce smoke and do not cut trees (although we acknowledge the environmental impacts from manufacturing some solar energy utilities).

2. Biogas: Biogas is made from animal waste and food scraps. It can be used for cooking and lighting. It reduces waste and protects forests.

3. Improved Cookstoves: Improved cookstoves use less wood and produce less smoke. They are cheaper than many modern systems and work well in rural areas.

4. Wind and Hydropower: Wind turbines and small water systems can produce electricity for communities without harming forests.

5. Energy Efficiency: Better house insulation and efficient stoves (and other electrical appliances) reduce the need for fuel. And, of course, being mindful, respectful, and aware of our energy consumption.

Conclusion

Considering all that we have explored, we can say with certainty that destroying forests for firewood and coal is not considered “clean energy”. It causes loss of habitat for animals, air pollution, climate change, and health problems. Clean energy should protect nature, support human health, and last for future generations. When using solar energy, biogas, improved cookstoves, and other clean solutions, communities can protect forests and build a healthier future for everyone.

If you have any other ideas or solutions to this topic, we would love to hear from you! Send us an email with your story, and we can share it with our global community!

References:
WHO Household air pollution
IEA Clean Energy Transitions Programme
Kachchh’s Charcoal Journey: Realities And An Alternative
United Nations

Images:
*Screenshot taken from the Cobra Gypsies documentary, YouTube
** Refugees in Uganda 
Cover image from World Agroforestry