Nairobi: A growing energy crisis linked to tensions involving Iran is quietly reshaping daily life for millions of people across Africa and parts of South Asia. What began as a disruption in global oil and gas supplies is now being felt in kitchens, forests, and wildlife habitats.
As fuel prices rise, many families who had moved to cleaner cooking options like liquefied petroleum gas are now returning to charcoal and firewood. For households already struggling with high living costs, gas has become too expensive or difficult to access. In cities and rural areas alike, people are choosing cheaper but more harmful alternatives just to prepare daily meals.
This shift is bringing back serious health concerns. Cooking with firewood and charcoal produces thick smoke that fills homes, increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses. Women and children are the most affected because they spend more time near cooking areas. Health experts warn that years of progress in reducing indoor air pollution are now being reversed.
The impact is also spreading to the environment. Increased demand for firewood is leading to more trees being cut down, putting pressure on already fragile forests. As people move deeper into wooded areas in search of fuel, wildlife habitats are being disturbed. This has raised concerns among conservationists who fear a rise in human and animal conflicts.
In some regions, economic hardship is also pushing communities toward hunting wildlife for food and income. Conservation groups say this could increase illegal poaching and threaten endangered species. It also raises the risk of diseases that can spread from animals to humans.
Wildlife protection efforts are facing additional challenges. Tourism, which supports many conservation programs, has slowed as travel becomes more expensive due to high fuel costs. With fewer visitors, national parks and reserves are losing vital funding needed to pay rangers and maintain protection systems.
Even routine conservation work is becoming harder. Rangers depend on fuel to patrol large protected areas, respond to threats, and monitor wildlife. Rising fuel prices are limiting how often they can carry out these duties.
Experts say the crisis highlights how closely global events are linked to everyday life. A conflict affecting oil supply routes can quickly reach households thousands of kilometres away, forcing difficult choices that affect health, livelihoods, and the environment.
There are growing calls for governments and international agencies to step in with support. Suggestions include making clean cooking fuel more affordable and investing in local energy solutions such as solar and biogas. Without such measures, the current crisis could leave lasting damage on both people and nature.
For many families, however, the reality is immediate. With limited options and rising costs, they are simply trying to cook their next meal, even if it means turning back to methods they had once hoped to leave behind.