U.S. Secretary Chris Wright urges IEA to make clean cooking fuels a core energy-security priority

Chris Wright, introduced in the transcript as "Secretary" representing the United States, told an international energy meeting that the International Energy Agency should expand its energy-security mandate to prioritize access to clean cooking fuels for roughly 2 billion people worldwide.

Wright said the problem is widespread and urgent, citing a World Health Organization estimate of about 2 to 3 million deaths annually related to polluting cooking methods. "I myself have viewed it for decades as the world's largest solvable problem," he said, framing clean cooking as an issue of public health, gender equity and economic opportunity.

Wright emphasized results over pledges and called for funds and private-sector engagement to scale distribution. "Much more important is action and results," he said, adding that business and small- and midsize enterprises will be central to building the distribution, storage and last-mile delivery systems that lower costs and increase availability.

He pointed to increased U.S. LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) production since the shale revolution as a supply opportunity and urged countries and companies to build the necessary supply chains and enabling policies. Wright said a focus on outputs—getting cleaner fuels to homes—must accompany funding commitments.

Wright also highlighted gender impacts, saying transitions to clean cooking return hours to women for education and economic activity and reduce indoor air pollution. He named several partners he expects to work with on this agenda, including "president Ruto," Prime Minister Storey, the Clean Cooking Alliance and IEA leadership, and said he anticipates participating in efforts in Kenya early next year.

The remarks were delivered without recorded formal motions or votes in the transcript. The meeting host thanked Wright for his remarks and commitment to clean cooking as a policy priority.