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In a joint letter sent today, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and 14 other signatories call upon European Commission executive vice-president Frans Timmermans and EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson to phase out domestic gas cooking appliances, as they endanger Europeans’ health.

Gas stoves release toxic pollutants that are linked to a number of health problems, such as asthma in children, and coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing in respiratory disease patients. A significant 7,3% of cases of paediatric asthma in the EU-27, which cost society an estimate 3.5 billion Euros per year, could be avoided if gas stoves were removed from homes – according to a forthcoming study by independent research organisation TNO. The study also reveals that levels of indoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) often exceeding the World Health Organization standards, applicable both for indoor and outdoor air quality, can be found in kitchens using gas. 

Despite gas stoves representing this danger to human health, indoor air pollution from gas cooking remains unregulated at the EU level, the letter notes. The signatories of the letters, who are several health and environmental civil society organisations, ask the European Commission to phase out the sale of gas cooking appliances by setting NO2 emission limits for stoves through the ongoing revision of the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling on Cooking appliances.

In addition to being an effective tool to improve energy efficiency, Ecodesign legislation has a “substantial potential” to contribute to “reduced air pollution” and standards for emissions of nitrogen oxides have long been in place for other products such as space heaters.

This call from civil society comes ahead of the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Consultation Forum on Cooking appliances on 29 November. 

At the meeting, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s scientific advisory department, will present its study “Preparatory study of ecodesign and energy labelling measures for domestic cooking appliances” which cautions against the dangers of cooking as a “significant source of indoor pollutants” and points to NO2, carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned methane being released by gas stoves.  

The global movement against gas stoves is growing. On the same day of the letter’s release, a new coalition is being launched to promote universal access to safe, fossil-fuel-free, affordable and sustainable cooking. The Global Cooksafe Coalition brings together organisations from the spheres of public health, property and the built environment, fair food, renewable energy, energy efficiency, aid and development, and climate change science and advocacy.