Proyecto Mirador Becomes First Latin American Cookstove Project to Earn AA Rating from Calyx Global

New Impact Report Details 400,000 Cookstove Installations in Homes Across Honduras and Guatemala, Benefiting Over 1.6 Million People

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cool Effect, a Bay Area-based nonprofit that supports high-integrity carbon emission reduction and removal projects around the globe, today announced that Proyecto Mirador has installed 400,000 clean cookstoves in homes across Honduras and Guatemala, marking a major milestone for one of Latin America’s largest clean cooking initiatives. The U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit clean cookstove project began in 2004 as a response to widespread health and environmental harms from traditional open‑fire cooking in rural Central America. The project has delivered cleaner, safer cooking solutions to more than 1.6 million people, while generating measurable climate, health, and community benefits.

The milestone coincides with the release of Proyecto Mirador’s latest Impact Report, which documents the project’s progress in monitoring, transparency, and real-world stove adoption – key indicators behind new recognition under rigorous voluntary carbon market standards. The project has received an AA, or “Tier 1,” rating from independent carbon ratings agency Calyx Global, placing it among the most highly rated cookstove projects worldwide and the only one of its kind in Latin America to achieve this distinction to date.

“Over the past years, the clean cookstove sector has made meaningful advances in strengthening monitoring, data transparency, and accountability,” said Donna Lee, co-founder of Calyx Global. “Projects increasingly demonstrate stronger evidence of real-world use and measurable climate and health outcomes. Independent ratings provide important oversight of carbon credit integrity and help buyers and stakeholders understand which projects are delivering real climate impact with reduced emissions.”

The project also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), earning Calyx Global’s highest SDG rating for cookstoves. In addition, carbon credits issued under Gold Standard project ID numbers GS2758 and GS12798 (Honduras) are Core Carbon Principles (CCP) labeled. This indicates compliance with the methodological requirements established by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), making the credits eligible for the CCP label and demonstrating adherence to rigorous standards for environmental integrity, governance, and transparency.

Globally, more than 3 billion people still cook over open fires, and poor indoor air quality from traditional stoves contributes to 3.2 million premature deaths each year. Open-fire stoves can emit smoke containing 29 known carcinogens, creating serious health risks for rural families.

Proyecto Mirador’s Dos Por Tres improved stoves reduce firewood consumption by roughly 3,600 pounds per year, saving 5 to 9 trees per household, while preventing an estimated 7.2 tonnes of CO₂ emissions over the stove’s lifetime. By cutting the time and cost of collecting fuel, families can see an estimated 7 to 12% increase in annual household income. The project also delivers tangible community benefits. Mirador’s project activities support more than 40 microenterprises and support over 300 local full- and part-time jobs, including local technicians and supervisors to build and maintain the stoves. Each stove is custom-built with materials provided by the family and expertise supplied by Mirador, ensuring a no-cash, corruption-resistant model.

Recent improvements to stove design and testing have increased efficiency, reduced construction time by 20%, and enhanced thermal performance. The Proyecto Mirador teams have conducted over one million field surveys monitoring stove use and maintenance, demonstrating a robust commitment to quality and long-term impact.

“Proyecto Mirador demonstrates what’s possible when climate solutions are built in partnership with communities and backed by rigorous carbon standards,” said Dee Lawrence, founder and director of Cool Effect. “Recent independent recognition, including the AA rating and CCP labeling, underscore the importance of transparency, strong data, and independent oversight. These signals help ensure that carbon finance is driving real climate impact while delivering meaningful benefits for the communities at the center of the work.”

On the heels of installing over 400,000 custom stoves and receiving strong independent ratings, Proyecto Mirador is entering its next phase of growth. The project plans to expand clean cooking access across Central America while continuing to improve monitoring, carbon accounting, and community partnerships.

The full Impact Report provides a detailed overview of the project’s progress, current impact, and plans for scaling clean cooking solutions across Honduras and Guatemala. To learn more about Proyecto Mirador’s impact, download the full Impact Report and visit the project page.

About Cool Effect^TM

Cool Effect is a San Francisco Bay Area 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to reducing carbon emissions around the world. Endorsed by 1% for the Planet, its mission is to educate and then inspire businesses and individuals to take measurable action against climate change by purchasing scientifically verified carbon credits from the world’s highest quality projects. It returns more than 90% of each donation directly to its project partners and, since its launch at the Paris COP in 2015, has helped projects receive over $84 million for over ten million tonnes of emissions retired. Like the Butterfly Effect, The Ripple Effect, and others, a single action can have global impact. To learn more, please visit cooleffect.org or follow Cool Effect on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.