Reforestation & social issues - Togo
PROJECT TOGO
Planting trees, building schools. In Togo, we do both at the same time. Because climate protection works best with people.
Less energy use. Less CO₂.
When systems, devices or processes require less energy, CO₂ emissions decrease. These savings are documented and form the basis for certificates.
How CO₂ savings are generated
Clean cookstoves use significantly less fuel than traditional open fires. As a result, less wood, charcoal or other biomass is burned — and this directly reduces CO₂ emissions.
The amount of fuel saved can be measured and forms the basis for CO₂ certificates.
Traditional cooking methods are often inefficient and require large quantities of wood or charcoal. Efficient stoves use heat more effectively, burn more cleanly and reduce cooking time. Every unit of fuel saved results in fewer emissions from combustion.
Depending on the region and the type of fuel used, there are clearly defined emission factors that indicate how much CO₂ is released per kilogram of wood or charcoal.
For each project, calculations determine how much fuel would have been used without the clean stove (the baseline) and how much is actually needed. The difference shows how many emissions have been avoided. These values are verified and regularly updated — and this is what CO₂ certificates are based on.
An energy-efficient cookstove replaces a traditional open fire that requires significantly more wood. Let’s take a household that previously used 3 tonnes of wood per year.
With a clean cookstove, consumption decreases — depending on the model and usage — by around 50%. The household now needs only 1.5 tonnes of wood per year.
For the calculation, a fixed emission factor is used that indicates how much CO₂ is released when wood is burned.
A typical value is 1.83 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of wood.The CO₂ savings are calculated as follows:
1.5 t of wood saved through the clean cookstove
×
1.83 t CO₂ per tonne of wood
=
2.745 t CO₂ savings per household per yearThis amount is verified, confirmed and issued as 2.745 CO₂ certificates — always one certificate per tonne of CO₂ avoided.
Note:
This example illustrates the principle of emission reductions from clean cookstoves. Whether a project can actually generate certificates depends on strict requirements: recognised standards (e.g. Gold Standard, VCS), established fuel-consumption studies, independent audits and ongoing usage verification. Not every efficient stove or cooking device is automatically eligible for certification.For the emission reductions of an energy efficiency project to be issued as CO₂ certificates, they must be clearly demonstrable. The savings must be additional (without the project the fuel consumption would have remained unchanged), measurable, verifiable and auditable. International standards such as Gold Standard or Verra (VCS)define these requirements.
These standards specify exactly how fuel consumption before and after the intervention must be determined and which data a project must report regularly — for example stove usage, actual fuel consumption, emission factors or potential leakage effects. Independent auditors check on site whether the cookstoves are actually used and whether the reported savings are plausible and robust.
Only when all evidence is complete and verified can a CO₂ certificate be issued — always representing exactly one tonne of avoided CO₂.
This creates a transparent process that ensures each certificate reflects a real and verified climate impact.
Which project types are included?
Energy efficiency projects come in different forms. The most important approaches include:
Clean Cookstoves
Efficient stoves require significantly less wood or charcoal and burn more cleanly. This noticeably reduces fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
Water Filter Systems
Clean drinking water eliminates the need to boil water over traditional fires. Lower demand for firewood leads directly to CO₂ savings.
Efficient Household Appliances
Lighting systems, refrigerators or other efficient household devices reduce electricity or fuel consumption — and therefore emissions.
Improved Industrial Processes
Optimising production processes saves energy, reduces losses and lowers the need for fossil fuels.
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Efficient Lighting
LED or solar-powered lighting replaces kerosene lamps or energy-intensive lighting. Emission reductions result from lower energy use and longer lifespan.
Efficient Heating Technologies
Better insulation, efficient heating systems or improved cooking technologies reduce the energy required for heat — especially in households and small businesses.
Energy-Efficient Micro-Enterprises
Small businesses receive more efficient tools or machinery — such as improved drying, milling or processing technologies — reducing energy use and emissions.
Energy-Efficient Vehicles and Transport Solutions
More efficient engines, optimised routes or the use of low-consumption vehicles reduce fuel use and associated CO₂ emissions.
To ensure that the CO₂ savings of an energy efficiency project are reliable, they are monitored on a regular basis. Project operators collect data on actual fuel consumption, the use of devices or technologies, and operating conditions that influence energy demand. The requirements for this monitoring are clearly defined and follow standardised measurement methods.
Independent auditors verify this data on site and compare it with the requirements of recognised standards such as Gold Standard or Verra (VCS). They check whether the devices are used correctly, whether the reported savings are plausible, and whether the calculations remain consistent and traceable. Only when all evidence is complete and coherent is the confirmed CO₂ reduction documented and approved for issuing certificates.
This creates a transparent process that ensures each certificate reflects a real and verified climate impact.
What additional benefits do these projects provide?
Reduced indoor air pollution, Efficient stoves and devices burn more cleanly and reduce smoke, particulate matter and pollutants inside homes — a direct benefit for health and quality of life.
- 1
Reduced pressure on local forests
When households or businesses need less fuel, pressure on surrounding forests and biomass sources decreases.
- 2
Time savings for families
Less firewood collection, shorter cooking times and more efficient daily routines give households more time for school, work and everyday life.
- 3
Health benefits
Lower smoke and particulate exposure reduce the risk of respiratory diseases, especially for women and children.
- 4
Economic relief
Lower fuel consumption means lower costs — an important advantage for households and small businesses with limited income.
- 5
Technology transfer and training
The use of improved cooking and efficiency technologies brings training, knowledge-building and technical capacity to local communities.
- 6
Increased household safety
More stable, cleaner cooking systems reduce risks such as burns, sparks or household fires.
- 7
Strengthening local value creation
Manufacturing, selling and maintaining efficient devices creates jobs and supports local workshops and retailers.
