Women and girls are disproportionately burdened with time-consuming tasks of collecting fire wood and cooking in these conditions. The results are staggering. Four million people die each year from illness caused by indoor air pollution-related diseases. 50% of deaths from pneumonia of children under 5 are caused by breathing particulates from household air pollution. Collecting wood can be a dangerous business; in remote areas of Africa, 82% of rapes occur while girls are collecting firewood.

When women have more time and education, their families prosper.