Rising liquefied petroleum gas prices across Asia are forcing millions of families to abandon clean cooking fuels and return to burning firewood and other polluting alternatives, creating a public health crisis and threatening the region's energy transition.
In Delhi slums, families like that of Afshana Khatoon now spend hours scavenging for firewood to cook meals. Khatoon walks miles through urban parks daily, collecting branches and sticks to use as fuel on makeshift stoves. This shift reverses years of progress toward cleaner household energy.
The price surge reflects global LPG market volatility and supply chain disruptions. As costs climb beyond the reach of low-income households, families revert to biomass burning. Indoor smoke from firewood and agricultural waste exposes residents to dangerously high concentrations of particulate matter and carbon monoxide. The World Health Organization identifies household air pollution as a leading environmental risk factor, linked to respiratory disease, heart conditions, and premature death.
The health burden falls hardest on women and children who spend the most time near cooking fires. Prolonged exposure to indoor smoke equals the impact of smoking multiple cigarettes daily.
This backsliding undermines Asia's climate and development goals. Burning biomass releases carbon dioxide and black carbon, driving climate warming. The shift also threatens national pledges to provide universal access to clean cooking energy by 2030, a Sustainable Development Goal target.
Governments face pressure to stabilize LPG pricing through subsidies or price caps, yet budget constraints limit options. India's subsidized cooking gas program helps some households, but targeting remains incomplete. Neighboring countries struggle with similar affordability gaps.
Energy experts warn that without intervention, millions will remain trapped in cycles of poverty and pollution. Clean cooking access requires stable prices combined with reliable supply chains and infrastructure investment. Without these elements, the energy transition stalls and public health deterior