Co-operatives Europe is pleased to announce the formation of:-

ACT - Addressing the Climate Threat

ACT will be formally launched at the General Assembly in Sofia on 23rd June 2009.

Why is ACT being created?

There is clear consensus amongst the world’s leading climate scientists that we are facing a very real threat of devastating and adverse consequences from changes to the world’s established climate patterns. The climate in all regions of the world is changing, with dramatic, mostly adverse impacts for their populations with more volatile weather, more severe storms and floods, but with severe droughts in some regions – and all of this is mainly because of the way we live now. Our excessive use of the earth’s resources, especially of fossil fuels, is the main cause of the harmful effects of changes in our climate systems today.

Some co-operatives are already doing many things to address the climate threat, but usually on their own. ACT is being launched to encourage more co-operatives to be like the leaders and do more and to do it together within a framework. This way, the co-operative economy will have more impact and will also achieve recognition for its contribution.

What will ACT try to do?

1. Provide a European framework to encourage co-operatives to do more:-

 to reduce their own energy consumption and carbon emissions
 to inform, educate and motivate their members and workers to reduce their own consumption and emissions
 to lobby politicians to do the right things, especially in the lead up to the Copenhagen Climate Conference in December 2009

ACT will provide information and guidance to help co-operative enterprises to do these things not only more easily but more effectively, and with maximum impact from doing them together.

2. Lobby and campaign with the EU institutions, and seek funding The EU sets many laws and targets that directly affect many of our co-operatives and their members (recognising that some countries represented in Co-operatives Europe are not members of the EU). The EU will be an important contributor at the Copenhagen Conference, it is therefore vital that our collective voice is heard by, and has an impact on, our political leaders. There are EU funds available that we will try to access to help pay for some of our work in this area. This is all only possible if we work together.

There will be more information and discussion of the ACT work programme at the Climate Threat Workshop at the Cooperatives Europe General Assembly in Sofia.

For further project details contact richardmason.climatethreat@coopseurope.coop

The initial sponsor of this project is the Co-operative Group UK For more details and expressions of interest to become project partners please contact the Project Principal Bob Burlton bobburlton.climatethreat@coopseurope.coop