New Delhi: At COP29 in Baku, UK Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds announced a significant package to provide 10 million people worldwide with access to clean cooking solutions. This initiative aims to improve health and safeguard the environment by reducing the reliance on harmful fuels such as wood and charcoal for cooking, a UK government press release stated.
The £74 million funding package will primarily target countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific, where approximately 2.1 billion people still lack access to clean cooking methods. This initiative underscores the UK’s commitment to supporting the Global South in transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
The Minister emphasized that “Nothing could be more central to the UK’s own national interest than delivering progress on arresting rising temperatures. This is our chance to achieve clean and secure energy, both globally and at home, and, in doing so, drive growth for the UK.”
The funding will be distributed through two channels: a five-year extension of the UK government’s Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) program and the Ayrton Fund. MECS, which will receive £44 million, will extend its operations until 2030, while the Ayrton Fund will contribute £30 million.
In addition to the clean cooking package, Minister Dodds announced a £16 million investment by British International Investment (BII) into Africa Go Green, a fund dedicated to supporting early-stage businesses in Africa that are implementing climate action solutions, including improved access to clean cooking.