Cooperatives for Climate Action has been selected as the theme of International Day of Cooperatives 2020. “We have to demonstrate on a global scale that it is possible to develop an economy with social inclusion and protection of natural resources,” said Ariel Guarco, President of the ICA on the occasion of unveiling of the theme.
“Our common home is in danger. There are methods of production and consumption that are constantly attacking the environment. We don’t have much time to reverse this situation. We must act now, with our values and principles”, added Guarco.
It bears recall that the United Nations International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July, which falls on 4th July this year. The aim of this celebration is to increase awareness on cooperatives, highlight the complementary goals and objectives of the United Nations and the international cooperative movement
A press release issued by ICA read “The theme of the International Day of Cooperatives 2020 is COOPERATIVES FOR CLIMATE ACTION. We are inviting the global cooperative community to continue pushing for actions that will address climate change. This critical situation is putting lives and livelihoods at risk, disrupting vital ecosystems for people and the planet”.
“On 4 July 2020, join us as we raise awareness on the importance of addressing climate change. No country is immune from it, greenhouse gas emissions are more than 50 percent higher than it was in 1990, and global warming is causing long-lasting changes to our climate system which threatens irreversible consequences if we do not act”, the release noted.
Cooperatives worldwide can take this opportunity to show leadership and share their cooperative values in combating this global issue. A Cooperator’s Communications Guide will soon be available to help cooperatives use this day to illustrate the importance of taking action to battle climate change, it stated.
“As we did last year, together with Dot Coop We are launching the 2020 International Cooperative Day interactive map to illustrate how cooperatives worldwide are taking action to battle climate change, and celebrating their successes. Get more information here on how to participate. Last year we registered more than 130 events in around 40 countries worldwide. We also encourage you to promote #CoopsDay and #Coops4ClimateAction widely on all your social media channels’, stressed the release.
The 2020 International Cooperatives Day theme was chosen to support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 on Climate Action. The event will focus on the contribution of cooperatives to combating climate change.
The cooperative movement can use this important opportunity to take a stand as a global actor of change and collaborate with its partners within the international community. This collective effort can significantly impact the climate agenda and achieve a fair, green and just transition for all communities, leaving no one behind.