Dear Readers
In July, the International Court of Justice of the United Nations strengthened climate protection in a decisive move: in an advisory opinion to the General Assembly, it reaffirmed the legal obligation of states to combat man-made climate change and stated that states may be liable for damages if they fail to fulfil these obligations.
Court President Yuji Iwasawa even called climate protection a universal human right and called on governments not to exploit additional fossil oil and gas reserves. Although the opinion is only advisory and therefore not legally binding, it strengthens climate protection at both national and international level. In doing so, the court emphasises the polluter-pays principle, to which atmosfair is committed in its work. This is why we carry out our projects almost exclusively in developing countries. According to the polluter-pays principle and given that developing countries suffer most from climate change, they must receive most of the relief from the international community. Our task is then to combine climate action in these countries with concrete everyday benefits for the local people.
atmosfair in Nature Scientific Reports, positive health effects proven
A current example are our efficient stoves in Rwanda. Although they have been available for almost 10 years thanks to the atmosfair factory in Kigali, we were now scientifically honoured: an international team of doctors under Hamburg-based leadership has now been able to demonstrate in the journal Nature Scientific Reports that the stoves not only protect climate and natural resources, but also the health of the women who cook with them. According to the study, our Save 80 stoves not only save firewood, thereby protecting forests and wallets, but also improve peoples’ lung health because they emit fewer pollutants.
Also our project in Madagascar protects both the climate and human health. We are currently equipping six health centres with photovoltaic systems and electricity storage facilities in locations that are not connected to the national power grid. Thanks to our systems, examinations such as ultrasound and emergency operations at night can now be carried out.
Biochar creates additional income
Our biochar project in India combines climate protection and social development as well. Thanks to the project, families earn additional income by selling biochar that they produce themselves when cooking with our wood gasification stoves.
Such projects are only possible thanks to private climate protection contributions paid by greenhouse gas emitters from industrialised countries. In this way, we are already implementing the climate justice demanded by the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion, and we are proud of this. If your friends want to offset air travel or other unavoidable CO₂ emissions and thus meet the demand for climate justice, you are welcome to recommend atmosfair to them.
Enjoy the read!
Kind regards,
Dietrich Brockhagen
Managing Director, atmosfair
P.S.: atmosfair is growing and looking for passionate people with technical backgrounds to join our global climate projects. Interested? You can find our current job openings at atmosfair and Solarbelt here.
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Events:
Open house day on September 12th, 2025
It’s that time again in September: atmosfair will open the doors of its Berlin office and offering you a look behind the scenes. Our employees will be happy to answer all of your questions about carbon offsetting and our climate protection projects. And we’re going live to Africa to take a look at a climate protection project in action. You can register for free here.
Project News:
Scientific study confirms positive health effects of improved cookstoves
Thanks to our Save 80 stoves, people in Africa not only save a large amount of the firewood they need for cooking with traditional three-stone fires. Their health also benefits from these cooking devices, as a study in Nature Scientific Reports has now proven. Here, we explain how a Save 80 at home improves quality of life.
Madagascar: Solar power for health centres
By the end of the year, we will have equipped six more medical centres in Madagascar with photovoltaic systems. The centres are located in rural areas in the south of the country, where villages are often not connected to the national power grid. Thanks to atmosfair solar systems with electricity storage, the health centres are now operational around the clock.
Efficient Save 80 Stoves: Now Available in Uganda
Our Save 80 stoves are now also available in Uganda, East Africa. Following a successful pilot phase, households in Uganda are being supplied from our factory in neighbouring Rwanda. Uganda is struggling with deforestation as well, as large quantities of wood are burned for cooking there. Our stoves are helping to reduce the demand for wood.
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