The energy transition is incomplete without addressing how people cook their meals. For over 2.1 billion people worldwide, that still means relying on polluting fuels such as wood, charcoal, and kerosene, which pose serious health risks, particularly for women and children. Yet access to cleaner solutions is one of the most immediate and transformative steps available. Caroline Ochieng, Programme Officer for Energy Access Policy at IRENA, explores how clean cooking can improve health, empower women and youth, protect the environment, support sustainable development, and why it must be central to the energy transition.