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Energy shock ripples through kitchens, forests and conservation in Africa and South Asia
Rising LPG costs are driving families to charcoal and firewood, with conservationists warning of faster deforestation and weaker protection for wildlife habitats.
- Energy disruptions stemming from the Iran war have spiked fuel costs, forcing households across Africa and South Asia to abandon cleaner fuels like LPG for charcoal, reversing years of progress aimed at reducing air pollution that killed 2.9 million people in 2021.
- For residents like Brenda Obare in Kibera, Kenya, cooking gas is now unaffordable and scarce, forcing her to rely on charcoal burners outside her home. "We don't have many options," she said. "You use what you can afford."
- Increased demand for biomass fuels accelerates deforestation and encroaches on wildlife habitats, driving opportunistic poaching as Paula Kahumbu, CEO of Nairobi-based WildlifeDirect, warns that rising costs push people toward bushmeat, further pressuring wildlife populations.
- Falling tourism, which accounts for about 14% of GDP in Kenya and Tanzania, reduces funding for anti-poaching patrols, while higher fuel costs hinder field operations as conservation teams struggle to respond to human-wildlife conflicts.
- Mayukh Chatterjee of the International Union Conservation warned that prolonged fuel shortages jeopardize critical conservation gains, urging governments to treat conservation as essential infrastructure through targeted subsidies and backing local energy sources like biogas.
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15 Articles
15 Articles
Energy shock ripples from kitchens to forests as Africa and South Asia grapple with rising fuel costs
Global fuel price hikes are pushing families in Kenya and India back to burning charcoal and wood. This reversal threatens years of progress in promoting cleaner energy. The shift impacts women and girls, increasing their workload. Conservation efforts face funding cuts and operational challenges. Wildlife habitats and human health are at greater risk as people seek cheaper fuel sources.
·India
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Associated Press News+7 Reposted by 7 other sources
Energy shock ripples through kitchens, forests and conservation in Africa and South Asia
Energy shocks linked to the Iran war are pushing households across Africa and South Asia back to charcoal and firewood as cleaner cooking methods become more expensive and unreliable.
·United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left7Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Left
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources lean Left
58% Left
L 58%
C 17%
R 25%
Factuality
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