BRUSSELS, 5 JULY 2008
Confronting climate change through cooperative enterprise
This year the theme of the 86th ICA International Cooperative Day highlights the fact that cooperatives are enterprises that make significant contributions to addressing climate change. While some commit to cutting green house gas emissions, others are striving towards carbon neutrality, and all are working towards economic, social and environmental sustainability.
European cooperatives are rising to the challenge of climate change for it is not just an environmental concern but it has an undeniable impact on the economic and social well being of all Europeans.
On the occasion of the conference “Energiegenossenschaften. Bürgerengagement für eine nachhaltige Versorgung”, Cooperatives Europe presented the preliminary results of the first mapping exercise at European level concerning co-operatives working in the field of energy. Far from being exhaustive, the study provides a first overview of the numerous initiatives undertaken by co-operatives in the energy sector in some European countries.
In a time, when the energy issue is getting more and more relevant and EU policy tends to promote renewable energies and to liberalise the energy market, the co-operative movement is providing some important prompts for the discussion about the future actions that need to be taken. In the examples of best practice, most of the organisations root their activities in the values and principles of the co-operative enterprise model: solidarity, social responsibility, democracy. That is, their aim is not just to supply the consumer with energy, but to influence the consumer and the community’s behaviour.
The co-operatives’ commitment in the energy sector can be distinguished by ‘Producer and consumer co-operatives’ which are directly involved in energy production, such as the wind farms in the UK and the Italian hydroelectric co-operatives. In Denmark renewable energies provide over 20% of the electricity supply. The number of energy co-operatives shows the important role these enterprises have played in shaping the energy sector: 23% (600 MW) of Denmark’s wind capacity is owned by co-operatives, with 100.000 members owing 3.200 turbines; 300 of the 400 district heating networks belong to consumer co-operatives; farmer co-operatives own over 20 large-scale digester plants providing farmers with a sustainable waste-management solution.
‘Energy sensitive’ co-operatives’ , which though not directly engaged in the energy production or distribution show a particular sensitivity towards environmental issues. CO-OPERATIVES UK has promoted awareness rising campaigns for the reduction of energy consumption and key players in the UK Cooperative Movement have installed green power generating facilities in some of its buildings. Several CECODHAS members (European Association for Social Housing) are now working to improve the housing energy efficiency. The Italian Federation of Co-operative Banks (CONFCOOPERATIVE-FEDERCASSE) finances at competitive interest rates renewable energy projects.
There is a huge potential in the energy sector for the cooperative enterprise model, which joins the efficiency of the private form to the defence of the collective interest championed by the cooperative form.
"On this International Day of Co-operatives, the ICA calls on co-operators throughout the world to strengthen their activities in promoting sustainable development, celebrate actions that are already contributing substantively to mitigating climate change and work in partnership to ensure that co-operatives make significant contributions in confronting the climate change challenge."
ENDS
For further information, contact: Mirko Nodari m.nodari@coopseurope.coop
Notes:
1. Download the Cooperatives Europe introductory leaflet : Energy Cooperatives in Europe
2. UN Chief: Cooperatives have key role in tackling climate change
3. Read and Download the message of the International Cooperative Alliance for the 86th ICA International Cooperative Day/ 14th UN International Day of Cooperatives
