One of the areas of most obvious potential for new co-ops is that of community-based renewable energy. Cooperatives Europe has established a working party to discuss new energy issues and to contribute to policy formation.

Alongside that, a group of renewable energy co-ops operating in different european countries have decided to establish a co-operative federation to try to work together and to combine in seeking some financial support from the EU.

ACT! wishes them well and hopes that other co-ops will follow this example to work together and gain EU funds to support their projects to address the climate threat.

As most followers of ACT! will know already, 2012 is to designated by the UN as The International Year of Co-operatives.

ACT! welcomes this tremendous recognition of the contribution of co-operatives to the economy and society globally. It is an opportunity to be seized for co-operatives throughout the world to demonstrate the advantages of the co-operative model including their commitment to combating climate change and to promoting the generation and use of renewable energy alternatives to fossil fuels. We will keep you posted as we learn of co-operatives' plans for 2012.

www.cdscotland.co.uk


The Scottish Government's Climate Change
Delivery Plan and associated Renewables Action Plan will act as a strong driver for the development of the renewable energy sector in Scotland.

Scotland's co-operative development organisation,
Co+operative Development Scotland has now launched an initiative to ensure that co-ops play their part to the full in this program.

In doing so, it notes that in Denmark, 150,000 families are members of wind energy co-ops, owning over 3,000 turbines, which provide 23% of Denmark's energy.

www.EuropeanFutureEnergyForum.com

The foremost renewable energy gathering in Europe has announced a major conference and exhibition in London on October 19th - 21st, with how to fund the future of energy as the leading issue.

Steve Sawyer, Secretary General of the Global Wind Energy Council said:-

" As Europe considers moving towards a 30% emissions reduction target in the run-up to COP 16 in Cancun in December, this timely conference highlights the key role that offshore wind energy can and must play in order for Europe to meet its energy security, economic development and emission reduction objectives".

Europe's consumer coop sector has released an important new policy Statement welcoming the new EU directorate for Climate Action. It calls on this new Directorate to:-

• ensure climate change action is a top political priority
• work for a fair, strong and binding worldwide agreement
• increase the EU 2020 goal to a 30% emissions reduction
• provide investment incentives to promote renewable energy
• encourage more energy-efficient transportation policies

The consumer sector is a valued partner and supporter of ACT!

It has published its own policy statement " Climate Change and Consumer Cooperatives: Taking the Challenge Forward" in March 2009 and has contributed numerous case studies to the ACT!
website.

Visit www.eurocoop.coop for full details of its Statement on the EU Climate Change Directorate.

ACT! is delighted to note that the ICA Americas region, embracing Canada, USA and Central and South America is devoting its IXth Assembly to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina between 22-26 November to the theme of "Co-operative Commitment to the Preservation of the Planet".

ICA Americas has shown previously that it is willing to devote time and effort to enable its member co-operatives to debate this most important topic. At the first Co-operative Summit of the Americas Pacto Verde Cooperative (The Co-operative Green Pact) was declared.

ICA Americas was also an important supporter of ACT!'s initiative at the Geneva General Assembly in November 2009, which resulted in the Global Co-operative letter to the UN, just prior to the Copenhagen Climate Conference.

ACT! congratulates ICA Americas, offers its support, and sends best wishes for a really successful conference, with strong outcomes for co-operative climate activity in the Americas during 2011 and 2012.

One of the important ICA Sectors - Co-operative Housing - is meeting in London on 8th October to discuss climate change and what housing co-ops should do about it. See www.icahousing.coop for further details, of what promises to be a very interesting and stimulating conference.

This is a good example for some other ICA regions and sectors to follow, in the hope that all ICA regions and sectors will develop plans for actions to combat the climate threat Through 2011 and 2012.

It is very appropriate for housing co-ops to focus on the climate threat, as they can make a big difference by ensuring that their houses are really energy efficient, and also by ensuring that they are powered by renewable energy.

ACT's Principal, Bob Burlton is a keynote speaker and will use
the opportunity to make the case for more co-ops to do more
to combat the climate threat, but to do it together
as ICA members. This will maximise the impact,
but also will ensure that there is appropriate
public recognition of the contribution of co-ops
worldwide on this crucial social issue.