Large-scale distribution of liquified petroleum gas in Bangladesh's Rohingya refugee camp: Uptake, reductions in deforestation, and carbon financing potential

Background: Humanitarian organizations typically provide refugees with shelter and food, but not cooking fuel. In 2017, approximately 700,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh harvested firewood for cooking, resulting in rapid deforestation. Humanitarian organizations began rolling out free liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to all households in 2018.  

Methods: We estimated deforestation and carbon financing potential of the free LPG distribution program. We also used household surveys and stove use monitors to assess households that were about to receive LPG (n = 600) or had been receiving LPG for at least 12 months (n = 600) at baseline, then 12 and 32 months after baseline. We conducted a difference-in-difference analysis to quantify the impact of free LPG distribution on fuel use and coping mechanisms.

Results: Before receiving LPG, 100% of households cooked with biomass, either purchased or collected from the forest. After enrollment in the LPG program, households exclusively cooked with LPG 91·1% of days each month. Deforestation nearly doubled the year after the influx of Rohingya refugees in 2017 before returning to near pre-influx levels by 2019. We estimate the intervention offset 308,694 t CO2e/year at a cost of approximately $30 million USD annually (~96$ USD/t CO2e).

Implications: Large-scale LPG distribution in a humanitarian setting is feasible and can result in high exclusive use, reduced deforestation, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Including cooking fuel as part of basic humanitarian aid could help meet Sustainable Development Goal #7.

This article relates to R2HC funded study; Human and environmental health costs and benefits of firewood versus clean fossil fuel use by Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals and host communities in Bangladesh