Bob Burlton

1. The Climate Threat
and
Co-operative Social Responsibility
Bob Burlton
Principal, ACT – Addressing the Climate Threat
Chair, Co-operative Financial Services. UK
www.bobburlton.coop
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

2. Climate Threat
not
Climate Change
Why ?
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

3. Key outcomes from March 2009
International Scientific Conference
• Climatic Trends
Recent observations confirm that the worst-
case IPCC forecasts are being
realised….There is a significant risk that
many of the trends will accelerate, leading to
an increasing risk of abrupt or irreversible
climatic shift.
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

4. Key outcomes from March 2009
International Scientific Conference
2. Social disruption
Recent observations show that societies
are highly vulnerable to even modest levels
of climate change,
with poor nations and communities
particularly at risk.
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

5. Why? ------- because !!!!

7. Key outcomes from March 2009
International Scientific Conference
3. Long-term strategy
Rapid, sustained and effective mitigation based on
co-ordinated global and regional action is required
to avoid “dangerous climate change”….
Delay in initiating effective mitigation increases
significantly the long-term social and economic costs
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

8. Key outcomes from March 2009
International Scientific Conference
4. Equity
Climate change is having, and will have,
strongly differential effects on people
within and between countries and regions,
and on this generation and future generations.
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

9. Key outcomes from March 2009
International Scientific Conference
5. Inaction is inexcusable
There is no excuse for inaction!
We already have many tools and approaches…
to deal effectively with the climate change challenge,
but they must be vigorously and widely implemented.
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

10. Key outcomes from March 2009
International Scientific Conference
6. Meeting the challenge
To meet the societal transformation required…
we must overcome a number of constraints
and seize critical opportunities…These include..
Building on a growing public desire for governments
to act on climate change,
reducing the influence of vested interests
that increase emissions..
and engaging society in the transition to norms and practices
that foster sustainability.
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

11. ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

12. ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

13. ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

14. ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

15. Where do greenhouse gas emissions
come from?
80% of all
emissions are
related to energy
(production and
consumption)

16. Which countries emit most greenhouse gases in
Europe ?

17. 2006 emissions in four EU-15 were
already below Kyoto targets
Kyoto target Kyoto target Kyoto target, even if
if carbon sinks and carbon sinks and
carbon credits carbon credits
are included are included

18. Sustainable living
Living which meets the needs of the present
without affecting the ability of
future generations to meet their needs
Fair ?
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

19. WhatThe crises we face we in ?
(economic) climate are
Economic ! Climatic !

20. The crises (economic)– have are we in ? roots
What we face climate common
Living beyond our resources –
Greed, short-termism and a lack of social responsibility
Economic ! Climatic !

21. Meet Flynn ------ 12 april 08

22. So, what about
the co-operative values of
equity and social responsibility ?
Are they just words, or
are they values that we do live by?
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

23. 3 things coops can do
Measure & reduce own CO2
Inform & motivate our members
Lobby and campaign

24. Emissions reductions costs (£/tCO2)
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

25. Thank you
Please note:-
It is not only giving and cost from our co-operatives
There are benefits and opportunities
As my colleague, Richard will explain
Act ! - Addressing the climate threat

26. Reminder of 6 principle th
6th Principle:- Co-operation among co-operatives
Co-operatives serve their members most effectively
and strengthen the co-operative movement
by working together through
local, national, regional and international structures
ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat

27. ACT- Addressing the Climate Threat