MECS at COP29

The UK aid (FCDO) funded Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme has a strong presence at COP29, to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11-22 November 2024. Dr Simon Batchelor and Professor Matthew Leach of MECS will be speaking in various events at the conference, including a high-level side event which will see the launch of a major new publication on clean cooking in Africa and other sessions relating to scaling electric cooking, notably country action highlights of the Global Electric Cooking Coalition (GeCCo) which was formally launched at COP28. 

Transitions to clean cooking could eliminate as much as 2% of global GHG emissions, while bringing enormous economic, social and other environmental benefits for some of the poorest people and countries. Given the finance focus of COP29, MECS will be promoting the opportunities for integrated planning to leverage investments in energy systems to deliver on clean cooking too. We will also continue to advocate for high integrity approaches for carbon credits for cooking projects in both the voluntary and compliance markets.

“There has never been greater urgency for action on the climate, but there has also never been greater international resolve to deliver clean cooking: the COP could be a turning point to move ahead on these twin objectives” (Matt Leach, MECS)

Follow MECS on Twitter/X for further updates on our COP29 activities.

Tuesday 12^th November

Event title: “Addressing Clean Cooking Challenges in Africa: A Call for African Leadership”

Time: 15:30 – 17:00 AZT

Venue: Africa Pavilion (H11), Blue Zone

At COP29 in Azerbaijan, the African Union (AU) and the United Republic of Tanzania will join forces in a high-level side event to make clean cooking a central part of the global climate agenda.

As African countries continue to grow economically and urbanize, the need for clean cooking solutions is more pressing than ever with 70% of the population still relying on traditional, cooking methods. The high-level gathering will bring together African leaders, policymakers, and international stakeholders to address the clean cooking challenges and highlight the urgent need for political leadership, innovative partnerships, and substantial financial investment to achieve sustainable, clean cooking solutions across Africa.

This high-level side event will see the launch of a major new publication on clean cooking in Africa “Sustainable Scaling: Meeting the Clean Cooking Challenge in Africa” (preview here), led by The African Energy Commission (AFREC) in collaboration with the MECS programme.

Thursday 14^th November

Event title: ‘Global Electric Cooking Coalition (GeCCo) Country Action Highlights‘

Time: 11:00 – 12:00 AZT

Venue: SDG7 Global South Pavilion (G12a), Blue Zone

Following the formal launch of the Global Electric Cooking Coalition (GeCCo) at CoP28, this side event jointly organised by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and GeCCo will present an overview of country action highlights of GeCCo over the last year.

The Global Electric Cooking Coalition (GeCCo) is a collaboration of eCooking advocates seeking to significantly scale up access to electric cooking solutions across the world, reducing the environmental impact of cooking and improving the quality of life for millions of people. GeCCo’s initial target is to enable a mass transition to eCooking solutions in at least 10 countries in SSA, Asia, & LAC by 2030 for a significant (>10%) proportion of households and institutions. The coalition works with other existing global and national initiatives and provides guidance, leadership, integration, knowledge and funding to achieve this target. GeCCo is supported by anchor partners Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), Energising Development (EnDev), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS).

Friday 15^th November

Event title: ‘Renewables based clean cooking: An opportunity for climate and development‘

Time: 09:00 – 10:00 AZT

Venue: Industry Solutions for People and Planet Hub, UNIDO Pavilion (A7), Blue Zone

Most of the population lacking access to clean cooking are poor and unable to transition to imported fuels even when they are heavily subsidized. Furthermore, countries with high access deficit are also facing debt distress, inflation, currency devaluation and other macro-economic challenges. Renewable-based clean cooking solutions (RBCS), when linked to local value chains, not only offers a realistic pathway for all to transition; but also yields climate change-related benefits, fuel saving opportunities and co-benefits arising from supply chains across other sectors such as agriculture. The session will explore the collective role of renewables in the clean cooking transition and achieving net zero emissions from cooking by 2050.

Dr Simon Batchelor and Professor Matthew Leach of MECS will be joining the following event:

Event title: ‘Making 2024 the pivotal year for clean cooking. COP29 Presidency Official Side Event by Azerbaijan-IEA‘

Time: 15:00 – 16:30 AZT

Format: High-level Roundtable

Co-organisers: Azerbaijan COP29 Presidency, IEA

Venue: MR22

Event aims:

• This event, co-hosted by Azerbaijan and the IEA, will highlight 2024 as a pivotal year for advancing clean cooking. This year’s progress began with the Summit on Clean Cooking for Africa in May 2024, followed by the inclusion of clean cooking in a G7 Leaders’ Communiqué and continuing in this year’s G20 agenda under the Presidency of Brazil.
• The roundtable event will be opened by remarks from the COP29 President, H.E. Mukhtar Babayev, and IEA Executive Director, Dr. Fatih Birol.
• The welcoming remarks will be followed by a roundtable discussion with interventions from ministers and high-level representatives.
• First, the event concentrates on how the COP29 outcome can drive progress on clean cooking and linking clean cooking commitments to the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to be submitted in 2025. At the Summit on Clean Cooking for Africa, 12 African governments committed to prioritizing clean cooking and implementing proven policy measures. This event can
  offer a platform to integrate these commitments into future NDCs, while also encouraging other countries to make clean cooking a national priority, as it remains a global challenge, particularly in Africa.
• Second, the event highlights progress on commitments made at the Summit and announces new financing and investment to further advance clean cooking efforts. It will also connect clean cooking to broader agendas to fight some of the most pressing development and climate challenges, including electricity access, health, gender equality, climate change, forest and biodiversity conservation, and food security.
• After the interventions by ministers and other high-level representatives, the discussion will be opened to other contributions, allowing for broader insights and perspectives on clean cooking.
• The roundtable will conclude with closing remarks from Brazil, the incoming COP30 Presidency and current G20 Presidency, emphasizing the host country’s commitment and efforts to advancing clean cooking initiatives beyond the 2024 agenda.

Confirmed speakers – except opening remarks, moderator and closing remarks:
o Norway, Minister of International Development, Hon. Anne Beathe Tvinnereim
o Kenya, Hon. James Opiyo Wandayi, Minister of Energy and Petroleum
o United Kingdom, Minister for Development and Minister for Women and Equalities, Rt. Hon. Anneliese Dodds MP
o Uganda, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu
o African Union Commission, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, H.E. Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid
o India, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hon. Shri Pankaj Jain
o Netherlands, Climate Envoy, H.R.H. Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme
o Climate Investment Funds, CEO, Ms. Tariye Gbadegesin
o Sustainable Energy for All, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (UN SRSG), Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi
o United States, Chief Climate Officer at the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Ms. Anna Shpitsberg

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Featured image credit: Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC), Uganda.