The UK Minister for Development, Anneliese Dodds, has unveiled a £74 million funding package to expand global access to clean cooking solutions, benefiting millions, including communities in Ghana.

The announcement was made during COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Globally, 2.1 billion people still rely on firewood, charcoal, or other polluting fuels for cooking.

This practice disproportionately affects women's and girls’ health while contributing to deforestation and environmental degradation.

The UK’s new funding aims to provide clean cooking solutions to an additional 10 million people across West Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific.

Minister Dodds stated, “Britain is back with a voice on the world stage, and we are leading new initiatives to support health and the environment.

"This package will help people leave coal and wood cooking behind, improving the health of women and girls and protecting the environment.

"Nothing is more central to the UK’s national interest than addressing rising temperatures and achieving clean, secure energy globally and at home.”

The £74 million initiative will be supported by, £44 million from a five-year extension of the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme, running until 2030. £30 million through the Ayrton Fund, which accelerates clean energy transitions in the Global South.

Additionally, the UK’s British International Investment (BII) has committed $16 million to the Africa Go Green Fund.

This fund backs early-stage climate action businesses, including those advancing clean cooking solutions.

The Minister also announced an additional £30 million for the Weather and Climate Information Services (WISER) programme.

This initiative, in partnership with the UK Met Office, strengthens Africa’s ability to forecast and prepare for extreme weather events and climate change.

The new funding increases the UK’s total support for WISER to £47 million, aiding farmers and communities in climate adaptation.

The funding aligns with the UK’s broader International Climate Finance goals, which include a commitment to spend £11.6 billion between April 2021 and March 2026.

By 2025, the UK will dedicate £1.5 billion to support vulnerable nations in building resilience to climate impacts, tripling its adaptation spending compared to 2019 levels.

Through initiatives like these, the UK continues to prioritize partnerships with the Global South while addressing critical environmental challenges.