Determinants of clean cooking energy use among rural households in Nyasa District, Tanzania

As global climate change intensifies, accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources has become a critical environmental imperative. In developing economies, the continued reliance on biomass for cooking remains a major driver of deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and indoor air pollution. In this context, Tanzania faces the challenge of alleviating rural energy poverty while advancing climate resilience and sustainability goals. Against this backdrop, this study examines the determinants of clean cooking energy use among rural households in the Nyasa District of Tanzania. We collected survey data from 150 household heads selected through a multistage sampling approach. We employed descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model to analyse the data. Descriptive statistics revealed a predominant dependence on traditional biomass fuels in the study area. Regression analysis indicates that household income, household size, gender of the household head, distance to clean energy sources, and access to information through media significantly influence clean cooking energy use. Grounded in Energy Transition Theory, the study findings underscore the importance of these determinants in shaping clean cooking energy transition pathways. Therefore, policy interventions should focus on enhancing affordability through microloans, subsidies, and income-support programs; empowering women with access to credit, training, and decision-making roles; expanding rural distribution networks; and implementing media campaigns to raise awareness of the benefits of clean cooking energy. Additionally, scalable and efficient cooking solutions should be promoted to meet the energy needs of larger households, ensuring inclusivity and sustainability during the clean cooking energy transition.