# CNG, LPG and biogas distribution: Impact on the biosphere

Cleaner kitchens, fewer felled trees and leaky biogas plants

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/biosphere/

What this tab covers Effects on human, animal, plant, fungal and microbial life and on whole ecosystems: in the short term (construction and early years), medium term (operating life) and long term (decommissioning and legacy).

The biggest effect on human life is positive: LPG replaces wood, charcoal and kerosene smoke in kitchens. Risks are cylinder fires and explosions, and methane leakage from biogas plants.
 People in Africa lacking clean cooking about 1 billion^[17](https://www.iea.org/news/accelerating-clean-cooking-investment-can-propel-africa-towards-full-access-by-2040) Methane emitted by biogas plants (IEA average) about 6% of output^[9](https://www.iea.org/reports/outlook-for-biogas-and-biomethane) Methane from bioenergy, world, 2025 about 20 Mt, mostly from incomplete burning of traditional biomass for cooking and heating^[10](https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2026/key-findings) Emissions avoided by full use of manure for biogas about 1,000 Mt CO2-eq in agriculture plus 400 Mt from displaced fossil fuels^[9](https://www.iea.org/reports/outlook-for-biogas-and-biomethane)

#### Effects over time

| Life affected | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Humans**^[17](https://www.iea.org/news/accelerating-clean-cooking-investment-can-propel-africa-towards-full-access-by-2040)^[4](https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/economy/story/lpg-consumption-falls-8-in-h1-2026-as-west-asia-conflict-disrupts-supplies-540664-2026-07-02) | Little construction impact; bottling plants and depots are small | Cleaner cooking than solid fuels, whose smoke causes over 800,000 early deaths a year in Africa; cylinder leaks and fires are a household risk; 2026 shortages cut supply | Old cylinders must be inspected and scrapped |
| **Animals**^[17](https://www.iea.org/news/accelerating-clean-cooking-investment-can-propel-africa-towards-full-access-by-2040) | Little evidence of effect | Less firewood demand reduces pressure on forest habitat | Little evidence of effect |
| **Plants**^[17](https://www.iea.org/news/accelerating-clean-cooking-investment-can-propel-africa-towards-full-access-by-2040) | Little evidence of effect | Switching from firewood and charcoal reduces tree cutting | Little evidence of effect |
| **Fungi and soil life**^[9](https://www.iea.org/reports/outlook-for-biogas-and-biomethane) | Little evidence of effect | Digestate from biogas plants returns nutrients to soil and can replace synthetic fertiliser | Little evidence of effect |
| **Ecosystems**^[9](https://www.iea.org/reports/outlook-for-biogas-and-biomethane)^[10](https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2026/key-findings) | Little evidence of effect | Methane leaks from digesters and upgrading can offset biogas climate gains | Using manure and waste for biogas avoids methane from rotting |

#### How the effects are reduced

Regular cylinder testing, pressure relief valves, odorised gas and safety training reduce accidents. Covered digestate storage, leak detection and flaring of off-gas cut methane from biogas plants. Renewable LPG and biomethane lower the fossil carbon in the same delivery chains.

#### Sources

1. [LPG consumption falls 8% in H1 2026 as West Asia conflict disrupts supplies (PPAC data)](https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/economy/story/lpg-consumption-falls-8-in-h1-2026-as-west-asia-conflict-disrupts-supplies-540664-2026-07-02) Business Today, 2026
2. [Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane: A global geospatial assessment (WEO special report, revised May 2025)](https://www.iea.org/reports/outlook-for-biogas-and-biomethane) IEA, 2025
3. [Global Methane Tracker 2026: Key findings](https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2026/key-findings) IEA, 2026
4. [Accelerating clean cooking investment can propel Africa towards full access by 2040](https://www.iea.org/news/accelerating-clean-cooking-investment-can-propel-africa-towards-full-access-by-2040) IEA, 2025

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/correlation/index.md)
- [How it works](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/explain/index.md)
- [Efficiency and losses](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/efficiency/index.md)
- [Technology advances](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/advances/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/valuechain/index.md)
- [Geopolitics and regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/geopolitics/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/economics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_cng_lpg/links/index.md)