The Coop4dev team representing Ms. Simren Singh and Mr. Jeffrey Moxom participated in the webinar on Tackling Climate Change Together on 10 November 2021 hosted by the Cooperative College, UK. The College organised the webinar in the backdrop of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) held between 31 October to 12 November 2021.
Delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, COP26 was the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the third meeting of the parties to the 2015 Paris Agreement, and the 16th meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol. The COP26 generated a lot of international stir on climate issues and actions taken by countries.
The webinar hosted by the Cooperative College presented an important avenue to the Coops4dev team to discuss their latest research on environment ‘Cooperative for the Transition to a Green Economy’, carried out within the ICA-EU Partnership.
The research features eight case studies from each ICA region outlining how cooperatives are acting to protect the environment, as well as mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. It elaborates on the links between cooperatives and Principle 7 of the ICA Statement on the Cooperative Identity, Concern for Community, including the access and management of natural habitats and resources through cooperative approaches (such as water, energy, or forests).
Chaired by the CEO of the Cooperative College, Mr. Neil Calvert, the webinar focused on presenting the role of cooperatives in tackling climate change and the impact of their actions that are rooted in the value of cooperation. The participants included members of the Cooperative College. Ms. Simren and Mr. Jeffrey discussed with Mr. Neil how and why cooperatives can be used as a force for change within communities; why cooperatives are hardwired to care about their community and the wider environment, right down to the values and principles; and what influence cooperatives could and should have on the future direction of climate change, and crucially, how to engage future generations on an issue that they stand to be significantly impacted by.
The Coops4dev team is thankful to the host for giving them the opportunity to showcase the role and impact of cooperatives in mitigating climate change at a time when governments and climate advocates around the world were discussing this pertinent agenda.
