Modelling the integrated achievement of clean cooking access and climate mitigation goals: An energy systems optimization approach

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 7.1, to provide universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy by 2030, must be achieved in the context of rapid reductions in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While replacing solid cooking fuels with liquid petroleum gas (LPG) opens questions about the compatibility of energy access and climate mitigation objectives, the environmental impact of 2.6 billion people continuing to rely on solid fuel for cooking and heating is significant. However, models used to map deep decarbonization pathways typically do not feature a granular pathway for universal clean cooking access, which limits the representation of these two interconnected transitions, mitigating climate change and achieving universal energy access. Here, we present a novel methodology for representing residential cooking pathways within the TIMES energy systems optimization model (ESOM) framework. The methodology is demonstrated using India as a proof-of-concept case study, where scenario analysis explores solutions that reach universal clean cooking access in the context of GHG emissions reductions. The model presented here is published and publicly available to access.