AFRICA'S FORESTS DESTROYED BY CLIMATE POLICIES

In 2023, charcoal and firewood remain the dominant fuel for many households in Africa. Rapid population growth has seen an exponential rise in demand. Trees are not being cut down by people who don’t care about the environment, but by those with few alternatives. In countries such as Malawi, where deforestation is especially serious, the trade in charcoal is banned, but continues openly. A mix of corrupt officials and buyers desperate for the product make it hard to enforce the law. On a continent marked by poverty and a shortage of electricity, consumers either have no alternative to charcoal, or can’t afford it. Cutting down a tree is free. In Africa, an area the size of Switzerland is cleared of forest every year, with an estimated 90% of the wood used for cooking or to heat the home. Read the rest here: 

Africa's Burning Issue: Charcoal and the loss of forest - Net Zero Watch