Co-op News September 2021

28 | SEPTEMBER 2021
p Carbon dioxide
levels in the air are
now at their highest
point for at least
2 million years,
and the extreme
heatwaves and heavy
rains that have been
increasing are set to
continue
year and the world will be watching as the UK
government hosts the largest climate change
conference ever (COP-26),” said Co-op Food CEO,
Jo Whitfield, at the time. “Just as the government
must be ambitious in delivering against its own
commitments, we must all be bold and take
collective action to tackle climate change.”
Commenting on the IPCC report, Barry Clavin,
sustainability lead at the Co-op Group, said: “We
welcome [this report] as a sobering reminder of
the challenges we face but also as an indicator of
the opportunity that we still have to avoid some
of the worst impacts.
“NET ZERO WILL ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF
EVERYBODY IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN
CREATING AND ADOPTING CLIMATE
SOLUTIONS. COMMUNITY ENERGY IS
ESSENTIAL TO THAT ENGAGEMENT”
“As part of our new 10-Point Climate Plan
we’re committed to reducing or have committed
to reduce our total emissions as quickly as
possible and to achieve net-zero by 2040, 10
years ahead of international agreements. We’re
also committed to working co-operatively across
sectors, and with governments, NGOs and
consumers because the vast changes that are
required at pace are about ensuring that we can
protect our environment and to give current and
future generations a half-decent chance for a
fairer and more sustainable world.”
POWERING CHANGE FOR GOOD
The energy sector is a key contributor to climate
change, accounting for more than two-thirds of
global greenhouse gas emissions. Community
and co-operative energy organisations have
been key drivers in promoting and establishing
renewable energy sources, but the report shows
a long and difficult road ahead, with action
needed immediately.
“The IPCC Report shows us above all that
there is no time to waste,” said Emma Bridge,
chief executive of Community Energy England.
“We can limit global
temperature rises to 1.5
degrees, but to do that
we need to act now. As
an IPCC member state,
the UK government has
endorsed the report’s
findings, so must
now act with greatly
increased urgency and
effectiveness. Net Zero will only be achieved
if everybody is actively engaged in creating
and adopting climate solutions. Community
energy is essential to that engagement and to
local action on Net Zero. With COP26 on the
horizon, the government must actively enable
the potential of community energy by providing
the sector with real support.”
Dirk Vansintjan, president of REScoop (the
European federation of citizen energy cooperatives),
also highlighted the vital need to
act quickly. “The new ICPP report reveals once