Nepal Treasure Carbon : Nepal’s Clean Cookstove Initiative for Rural Health and Well-being

Kathmandu — In a significant effort to enhance rural livelihoods and environmental health, Nepal Treasure Carbon Pvt. Ltd. convened more than 30 key stakeholders this week in Kathmandu for a national-level consultation on the Community Carbon Efficient Cooking Program  – Nepal. The initiative aims to replace traditional firewood and mud stoves with high-efficiency cookstoves, offering safer, cleaner, and more sustainable alternatives.

Representatives from national ministries—including Forests and Environment; Finance; Energy; Law and Justice; and Land Reform—joined municipal officials and academics from Kathmandu University to align policy objectives with on-the-ground planning. Steven Fan, Director of International Operations at Nepal Treasure Carbon, highlighted the multifaceted benefits of the initiative: “This initiative is about dignity, health, and opportunity,” he said, noting that cleaner cookstoves cut both smoke and firewood usage, ultimately easing burdens on forests and rural families.

A central goal of the program is to generate Gold Standard-certified carbon credits, enabling climate finance to fuel ongoing distributions and long-term monitoring. Deployments are set to begin in key districts later this year, with ambitions to reach tens of thousands of households across Nepal.

Opening the consultation, Nepal Treasure Carbon President Nikesh Adhikari emphasized Nepal’s proactive leadership in the clean energy space: “AEPC has  already distributed over 1.3 million clean cookstoves. While others are still planning, Nepal is delivering real impact on the ground.” He underscored that carbon credits extend beyond emissions trading, aiming to foster cleaner air, healthier communities, and tangible opportunities for rural families.

Talking to the press director of Nepal Treasure Samiksha Baral said “While climate conversations often begin in conference halls, Nepal Treasure Carbon is taking the fight to the kitchens — where women across Nepal quietly bear the brunt of a public health crisis caused by indoor air pollution.”

Adding academic depth, Kathmandu University’s Professor Dr. Bed Mani Dahal announced that KU is developing carbon finance curricula and research programming to nurture domestic expertise in emission-reduction projects. Government officials—including those from the Ministry of Law—presented ongoing efforts to craft a fair, transparent legal framework for carbon markets in Nepal.

Nepal Treasure Carbon’s Program Manager Shekhar Gautam described the consultation as a vital mechanism for cross-sectoral collaboration, ensuring cohesive planning and swift action.

With strong institutional backing and inclusive planning, the Community Carbon Efficient Cooking Programme – Nepal promises to serve as a model for sustainable rural development, marrying environmental responsibility with social well-being.