Surging liquified petroleum gas prices across Asia are driving families back to firewood and biomass fuels, reversing progress on indoor air quality and threatening public health gains made over the past decade.

In Delhi, families like that of Afshana Khatoon now spend hours scavenging for kindling rather than using cleaner cooking fuels. The shift stems from regional energy disruptions tied to Iran sanctions and geopolitical tensions that have pushed LPG costs beyond reach for low-income households across South and Southeast Asia.

The World Health Organization estimates indoor air pollution from solid fuel burning kills approximately 3.8 million people annually, primarily in developing nations. Wood and agricultural waste combustion releases particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides that accumulate in poorly ventilated homes, triggering respiratory disease, cardiovascular complications, and cancer.

India's energy transition goals face particular strain. The government has promoted LPG adoption through subsidized cooking gas programs, moving millions away from biomass. But sustained price spikes reverse this progress. Similar patterns emerge in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia, where lower-income populations lack alternatives when commercial fuels become unaffordable.

The crisis exposes structural vulnerabilities in Asia's energy infrastructure. Most nations depend on imported LPG, leaving them vulnerable to global price shocks and supply disruptions beyond their control. Renewable energy expansion and domestic liquified natural gas production remain years away from filling this gap.

Public health officials warn the regression threatens decades of emission reduction efforts. Indoor air pollution from biomass burning contributes substantially to regional ambient air quality problems, already among the world's worst. New Delhi and other major cities battle hazardous air quality during winter months, and forcing populations back to firewood intensifies this burden.

Energy analysts call for urgent investment in renewable cooking solutions, including solar cookers and improved cookstove programs, to