Using clean fuels promotes diverse diets and health in Chinese households

Although switching to cleaner fuels can reduce home air pollution and hence improve health, nutritional advantages should not be disregarded. This study leverages data from the China Family Panel Studies conducted in 2010 and 2014, employing a fixed-effects model to estimate the impact of clean fuel adoption on residents’ dietary diversity and associated health improvements. By utilizing community-wide clean fuel usage as an instrumental variable, the analysis reveals that adopting clean fuels increases residents’ dietary diversity score by 0.2414 units compared to solid fuel use. The study highlights the multifaceted heterogeneity of these effects across various dimensions, including educational attainment, household income levels, age, proximity to commercial centers, family size, and urban–rural distinctions. Additionally, the research demonstrates that clean fuel utilization enhances women’s employment opportunities and income levels, thereby reinforcing their critical role in family nutrition decisions. Further analysis indicates that this dietary transition significantly boosts cognitive abilities, reduces underweight incidence, and improves self-assessed health, accounting for approximately 100%, 98.4%, and 5.99% of the overall impacts of transitioning to clean fuels, respectively. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the health advantages associated with adopting clean fuels and provide targeted policy recommendations.