Local solutions to climate change: The 2010 Ashden Awards Imperial College Conference

On the 30th June we'll be showcasing the pioneering work of our 2010 winners at the stunning Royal Geographical Society. Expect to be inspired and engaged in a day packed with films and presentations from our 2010 winners and debate around pressing issues for the UK and internationally.

In the morning the discussion will centre on the international arena. Presentations from our international winners will be followed by a panel debate around carbon finance - is it the way forward?

Discussion in the afternoon will begin with a examination of green politics in the UK. Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future, will lead an interview with a senior government official to look at the role local sustainable energy solutions could play in a tough fiscal future. Finally, our UK winners will round off the day with presentations of their work.

Numbers are limited and tickets are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for this free event and for a full programme of the day visit our registration page.

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Ashden award-winner GERES Cambodia have just sold their one millionth stove

Since winning an Ashden Award in 2006, GERES’ profile and sales has dramatically increased. They have built on their success, bringing improved ‘New Lao’ stoves to families across Cambodia. In March of this year they sold their one millionth improved cookstove! Not only is this a very significant milestone for GERES, but it is also a great achievement in the journey towards providing clean sustainable cooking alternatives for millions worldwide.

“It is an achievement of GERES Cambodia, but let’s consider it as the achievement of ALL STOVERS in the world. We can prove that disseminating large numbers of improved cook stoves is not a dream anymore, but we can manage to make it into a reality....I would invite all stovers in the world to work harder, think bigger and set longer term visions. There are 2 billion people around us waiting to use improved cook stoves for their daily cooking. They have the right to use the improved cook stoves and we are obliged to fulfill their rights.” - Iwan Baskoro, GERES Country Director

The New Lao stove’s success may be down to its unique design – read more about it here . It is manufactured at sixteen production centres across ten provinces and suited to burning charcoal, the local fuel of choice in urban areas.

Each stove saves 0.4 tonnes of carbon per year – when this is scaled up by the number that GERES has sold results are impressive, both in mitigating climate change and avoiding deforestation. On top of their environmental credentials, the work of GERES has had a significant social benefit, securing increased employment for over 1,100 people in the small industry sector. And, they have built on the success of the New Lao stove by developing two new stoves: the Neang Kongrey Stove for rural families and the Vattanak Stove for palm sugar production.

If you’d like to hear more about the work of our winners, please visit our website. We have also recently published a report on cookstoves, download it here.

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Ashden Award winner the Gaia Association has been shortlisted for a world-class award

Since winning an Ashden Award in 2008, the Gaia Association has been busy. More low-income families in Adis Ababa are feeling the benefits of cleaner, safer cooking fuel, CleanCook stoves are being used by thousands of families across the Kebribeyah and Awbarre refugee camps and stoves are being trialled and distributed in Nigeria, Brazil, South Africa and Madagascar. Now their impressive work has been recognised by the World Bioenergy Association.

In April, Executive Director Harry Stokes was selected from over ninety nominations as one of seven shortlisted to win a World Bioenergy Award. The acclaimed award marks out those who are developing bioenergy across the sectors. What an achievement - Stokes has been shortlisted alongside those from a range of professional areas, standing out for his commitment to making efficient, affordable cleanburning stoves widely accessible for African households. A worthy contender for the prize, our fingers are crossed! Announcements for the winner will be made on the 25th of May at World Bioenergy 2010 Conference and Exhibition.

If you want to find out more about our winners, visit our website. If you would like to read more about the benefits of improved stoves, download our recent research report, Stoking up a cookstove revolution: The secret weapon against poverty and climate change.

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