Statement from Sumi Mehta, Vice President, Environmental, Climate and Urban Health, Vital Strategies
July 19, 2024 (New York) — Households that burn biomass in inefficient open fires face significant barriers to accessing cleaner, safer, alternatives —a practice that results in $1.6 trillion in global damages from health impacts and climate-altering emissions yearly. While fossil fuel subsidies are widely criticized for their economic and environmental drawbacks; authors of a newly published article, “In praise of cooking gas subsidies: transitional fuels to advance health and equity,” contend that a critical exception should be made to ensure clean household energy.
“Subsidizing gas for cooking can be a game-changer for more than 400 million households, allowing them to escape the severe health consequences of relying on traditional biomass materials like firewood, dung, and charcoal,” said Sumi Mehta, co-author and Vice President, Environmental, Climate and Urban Health, Vital Strategies. “While fossil fuel subsidies are often criticized for their inefficiency and environmental impact—rightly so, as fossil fuels contribute to nearly 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions—household energy is an important exception; in the short term, it’s not just an environmental issue, it’s a matter of health equity. By targeting subsidies to reach populations that would benefit most, we can help to ensure that these crucial resources are used where they’re needed most, addressing both inefficiency and waste.”
“Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is one of the most viable solutions currently available at scale for reducing the harms of household air pollution,” Mehta continued. “Cooking with gas significantly lowers household exposure to air pollution and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but for many, the cost is prohibitive. Gas subsidies are a proven way to bridge this gap, making it affordable for low-income households. This approach not only eases financial burdens but also tackles the multiple impacts of biomass combustion, including air pollution, adverse health outcomes and contribution to environmental degradation.”
Using case studies from Ecuador, India, and Kenya, the authors quantify the health and climate benefits of reduced reliance on biomass fuels through provision of affordable, subsidized LPG. Key findings included:
- In Ecuador, 98,000 premature deaths were averted between 1979–2019 because of subsidy-induced accelerated LPG uptake.
- In India, using population data from 2023-2030, with even the smallest subsidy, an average of 330,000 premature deaths averted by 2030; averted deaths are three times larger when refills are subsidized down to 550 INR. For climate impacts, LPG subsidies would avoid 120–340 megatons CO2e.
- In Kenya which currently has an 8% VAT on LPGs, authors calculated that if removed, 30,000 premature deaths would be averted between 2023–2030, decreasing national household air pollution related mortality by 20%. Net CO2e would be reduced by 7 megatons.
“Gas subsidies should be considered as a transitional measure toward the ultimate goal of cooking with clean, renewable sources. For many communities around the world, however, this goal remains distant, while the health risks are pressing and immediate. In the interim, targeted government subsidies for fossil fuels can provide a necessary, short-term solution to foster more equitable and healthier communities.”
Read the full article: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ad5d06
About Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies believes every person should be protected by an equitable and effective public health system. We partner with governments, communities and organizations around the world to reimagine public health so that health is supported in all the places we live, work and play. The result is millions of people living longer, healthier lives.
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