“Would you buy less charcoal if…”: Identifying the conditions reducing charcoal dependency in urban Africa

Despite the potential for natural gas and electricity (NGE) to reduce deforestation and CO₂ emissions, charcoal remains the primary cooking fuel for urban households across Africa. This study examines the factors influencing the willingness to reduce charcoal use, focusing on Tete City, Mozambique, a city with representative NGE access and relatively high incomes. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, we explore what shapes households' willingness to reduce charcoal use under hypothetical scenarios, including changes in fuel prices, charcoal quality, and access to NGE. Binary logit regression models incorporate peer influence and prior experience with NGE, controlling for household socio-economic characteristics. Findings show that while urban households are generally open to reducing charcoal use, few are ready to fully transition to NGE. Households with experience using electricity are more likely to reduce charcoal use, whereas those familiar with gas stoves tend to resist further reductions. Indirect experiences–such as knowing peers who sometimes cook without charcoal–can reinforce charcoal use, especially when the alternative is gas. The study highlights the complexity of energy transition in urban Africa. Effective policies must go beyond promoting NGE adoption. Recommendations include improving small-scale charcoal production efficiency, expanding access to improved cookstoves, and addressing practical challenges in NGE usage. Understanding urban household behaviors and preferences is essential for advancing sustainable energy use and achieving SDG7.