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Peru and Switzerland have authorised the mitigation activity Tuki Wasi – "Cosy Home" in Quechua – that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time contributing to 12 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Tuki Wasi focusses on the promotion of certified and efficient improved cookstoves (ICS) in rural areas of Peru. The activity is Switzerland’s first authorized activity in Peru under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. The contract concluded with Microsol in November 2021 is the world’s first commercial purchase agreement for the acquisition of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) for NDC use. The Climate Cent Foundation (CCF), which has been supporting the activity since 2017 as part of a pilot project, has since prefinanced the construction of 35,000 improved cookstoves, with more than 30,000 of these having already been installed as part of CCF’s pilot activity. With the purchase of the resulting ITMOs, the CCF and the KliK Foundation will make the continuation of the mitigation activity financially viable.
Tuki Wasi promotes the use of ICS in the rural areas of Peru, reducing the amount of fuel needed for cooking. By employing ICS, the beneficiary families reduce firewood consumption and contribute to a more sustainable use of forests resources in rural areas. The ICS are implemented by Peruvian stove manufacturers that have been awarded with respective lots in a competitive selection process by the activity. In the selection process the activity sets out the required specifications for the tendered stoves to ensure suitability, safety, efficiency and pollution thresholds. The stoves promoted by Tuki Wasi are inhouse masonry stoves with two fireplaces, that are approved by the national standardisation agency.
The rural population of Peru lives far from the urban centres, often in self-sustaining communities. As a result, cooking fuels are unaffordable. Therefore, firewood is collected from forests and shrubland, and burned in traditional stoves. This practice can contribute to deforestation and leads to indoor pollution and severe respiratory diseases.
ICS drastically reduce the fuel use as well as health issues. However, these stoves represent a significant financial investment that many households can not necessarily afford. Through the support of the activity, the contracted stove manufacturers offer the stoves at affordable prices, with the beneficiary families providing in-kind labour to further reduce the price.
There are already governmental efforts in Peru for the installation of ICS, implemented as part of broader social and economic development projects in rural areas. However, these Peruvian social programs do not have the capacity to reach out to every household, especially in remote areas. This is where Tuki Wasi steps in, targeting regions that will be underserved by governmental support and thereby enhancing Peru’s and Switzerland’s cooperative ambition to fight climate change.
It is important that the awarded areas do not conflict with governmental ICS programs. To this end, Tuki Wasi is in exchange with the Ministry of Energy (MINEM) and the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS), which are responsible for the operation of these programs, and the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM), which is responsible for the track and management of emission reductions.
The registration experience of the Tuki Wasi program has been key to strengthening its technical robustness, particularly through alignment with the requirements of both the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and Peru’s Ministry of Environment (MINAM). In this context, the National Registry of Mitigation Measures (RENAMI) is essential, as it serves as the official platform to validate, recognise, and connect national climate actions with international mechanisms, ensuring environmental integrity, traceability, and transparency. Initiating the RENAMI registration process was a strategic step to enable the participation in climate cooperation mechanisms, providing technical evidence from the field and helping to position Peru as a leader in the rigorous implementation of the Paris Agreement commitments.
"The authorisation of Tuki Wasi marks a major step forward in promoting sustainable development and advancing cooperative climate action between Switzerland and Peru. The implementation of this greenhouse gas mitigation activity will enable thousands of rural households to benefit from cleaner indoor air, reduced emissions, and significant fuel savings. This marks the first authorisation of its kind for an activity in Peru, and we look forward to other activity owners submitting their documentation for authorisation in the near future."
"The Tuki Wasi Program is a pioneering project that is generating significant impacts in rural communities in Peru, offering a comprehensive solution that reduces polluting gas emissions, improves family health, and actively contributes to climate change mitigation. Through improved cookstoves, Tuki Wasi promotes sustainable practices that strengthen users' quality of life, integrating innovation and social commitment. At Microsol, we are proud to lead this initiative, which demonstrates how environmental development and community well-being are not just only compatible, but mutually reinforcing. Tuki Wasi stands as replicable, and high-impact model for achieving a sustainable and equitable future in the country."
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Peru and Switzerland are collaborating under a cooperative approach referred to in Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement and signed a bilateral climate agreement on 20 October 2020. This agreement regulates the cooperation between the two countries and establishes a legal framework for the implementation of greenhouse gas mitigation activities under Article 6.2. The agreement ensures that the mitigation activities meet the highest standards of quality, environmental integrity, SDGs, and human rights.
Peru’s confirmation of the additionality of the mitigation activity to its NDC, and its agreement to make corresponding adjustments to its national emissions registry, forms the basis for the authorisation of the mitigation activity by both countries. With the Mitigation Activity Design Document (MADD) and all required supporting documentation, Microsol demonstrated to the Peruvian and Swiss authorities that additional financing from carbon revenues is needed to make the activity financially viable.
The generated emission reduction, purchased as ITMOs by the KliK Foundation will be issued in accordance with the bilateral climate agreement and used to meet Switzerland's emission reduction target under the Paris Agreement.
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