Fuel upgrading in the kitchen: When cognition of biodiversity conservation and climate change facilitates household cooking energy transition in nine nature reserves and their adjacent regions

Upgrading cooking fuels in nature reserves and adjacent regions offers multiple benefits for climate change mitigation and ecosystem preservation. While many studies have analyzed the determinants of cooking energy consumption, rarely is cognition of biodiversity conservation and climate change considered in ecologically sensitive areas. Furthermore, there is limited research on cooking fuel use across households with diverse income levels and geographical locations within these regions. These gaps restrict the formulation of comprehensive, evidence-based policies aimed at balancing energy transitions with environmental sustainability. This study analyzes the adoption of several fuel types and their primary use, based on data collected from nine nature reserves and adjacent regions. A logit model is applied to examine the effect of biodiversity conservation and climate change cognition on fuel choices. The results indicate that biodiversity conservation cognition negatively influences the use of wood/straw, while positively affecting the primary use of LPG/coal gas and electricity. Moreover, households with a well-defined understanding of climate change are more likely to reduce their reliance on wood/straw and adopt electricity. These effects differ across income groups and regions, highlighting the potential of targeted educational initiatives to improve public cognition and facilitate the transition to clean cooking fuels.