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Global Climate, Environmental, and Health Benefits of Replacing Traditional Solid Fuels with Liquified Petroleum Gas
EMILY FLOESS, Rob Bailis, Elisa Puzzolo, Dan Pope, Andrew Grieshop, North Carolina State University
Abstract Number: 635
Working Group: Translating Aerosol Research for Societal Impact: Science Communication and Public Outreach
Abstract
2.8 billion people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) globally cook and heat using solid fuels (e.g. wood, charcoal, agricultural residues) , resulting in 2.6 million deaths annually from illnesses related to poor household air quality. Additionally, cooking and heating on solid fuels is a major contributor to climate forcing pollutants. Climate and health impacts are driven by non-renewable biomass use/short-lived species (including aerosols) and particulate matter (PM) exposures, respectively. Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a potential clean alternative to traditional solid fuels, and has been promoted widely. However, the climate, environmental, and health benefits or impacts of widespread LPG adoption across diverse LMIC settings has not been comprehensively studied. In this scoping analysis, we compare the impacts of current residential fuel choices to scenarios with full or partial replacement of traditional stoves with LPG. We conduct a high-level analysis for all LMICs and conduct more in-depth analysis for four priority countries: Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Haiti. Priority country analyses focus on differences between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas and regional differences in LPG adoption. Transition scenarios in the global analysis are based on those developed in the World Energy Outlook. We calculate climate benefits via the Global Warming and Global Temperature Potential metrics, including short lived climate forcers and upstream impacts of fuel processing and distribution. We calculate health benefits via estimated reductions in Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) using national- and sub-national-level PM exposure estimates under baseline and LPG-adoption scenarios. The results from this study will be used to quantify the impacts of LPG replacement, and help to communicate and inform policy decisions regarding household energy.