A very good article in The Conversation last week, highlights how the rocketing cost of fossil gas due primarily to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has had a number of knock o effects with social and environmental fallout.
In low and middle income countries, and often rural areas of HICs as well, it is very common for households to buy cylinders of LPG for cooking purposes. This is a by product of fossil gas extraction and usually provides a cheap, convenient and relatively cleaner option for households to meet their energy needs.
But the price rises for gas have also meant price rises for LPG meaning many can no longer afford it and revert to previous fuels such as wood and charcoal. This has impacts for both the broader environment – GHG emissions – and the local environment – household and local air quality. It can also lead to vegetation stripping and other unregulated damage to soils.
Then there are the social and economic costs of foraging for fuel and the knock on effects this can have.
Yet another reason to embrace the wholesale switch to renewables.
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