The government officially launched on Thursday, July 2nd, the Clean Cooking Development Policy Letter, a strategic document that sets the course until 2035 to democratize access to modern, clean, affordable and sustainable cooking solutions for Malagasy households. Led by the Ministry of Energy and Hydrocarbons, with support from the United Nations Development Programme and several partners, this policy, adopted by the Council of Ministers on April 7, 2026, aims to transform a sector still largely dominated by biomass energy, with its heavy consequences on forests, public health and climate. "This Policy Letter marks a historic milestone for Madagascar's energy transition. It reflects our commitment to guarantee every Malagasy household equitable access to clean, modern, affordable and sustainable cooking energy, while creating favorable conditions for innovation, investment and green job creation," declared Energy and Hydrocarbons Minister Radonirina Lucas Rabearimanga during the launch ceremony. The national strategy is built around five priority pillars. It provides for strengthening sector governance, accelerating the adoption of clean technologies, mobilizing innovative financing, supporting research and innovation, and improving data collection systems to guide public policies. It also encourages the development of several complementary energy sectors, notably liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biogas, bioethanol, electric cooking, alternative fuels and improved stoves. Beyond energy transition, authorities highlight the economic and social benefits of this policy. UNDP Resident Representative Deputy Jean François Dubuisson emphasized that major transformations are based above all on a shared vision. "History shows that major transitions always begin with a shared vision. Today, Madagascar is promoting this vision through its national clean cooking development policy. Our collective responsibility is now to transform this vision into concrete results: better protected households, preserved forests, developing businesses and jobs created," he stated. The urgency is real According to Nathalie Rosette, Director of Legal Affairs and Litigation, nearly 200,000 hectares of forests disappear each year due to pressure from biomass energy consumption. An observation that underscores that clean cooking is now a central issue for preserving forest resources, protecting public health and combating climate change. With this new policy, Madagascar is equipping itself with an ambitious roadmap to make clean cooking an engine for sustainable development. Its implementation will depend, however, on collective mobilization involving the State, the private sector, technical and financial partners, financial institutions, civil society and local communities, to accelerate all households' access to modern, sustainable and inclusive cooking energy.