People’s Leadership in Fighting Climate Change

Open Letter from Brazilian Cooperatives to the COP28

Friends from all nations, our planet needs more cooperation!

Only by joining efforts from all countries we can succeed in halting the advance of global warming through a low-carbon economy. As cooperators, we know it is entirely possible to combine productivity and development with sustainability, prosperity, and social responsibility. After all, every cooperative—regardless of size, field of action, or country— is born with the commitment to care for the community where it is based in, which can only be achieved with social justice, environmental balance, and economic viability. Additionally, we understand that the solution for climate change doesn’t solely rest on governments and businesses but also in the hands of ordinary people. The active, conscious, and organized involvement of society is essential to achieve carbon neutrality and effectively address climate challenges inclusively.

In this open letter to society, we share the vision and stance of Brazilian cooperatives regarding the main issues of COP28. Our goal is to contribute to the ongoing discussions in Brazil and worldwide about global warming and plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years.

We believe this is a collective effort, and we must cooperate in building public policies capable of promoting the necessary increase in Brazilian productivity without sacrificing sustainability and environmental preservation. We see Brazil being called to be a leader in building a low-carbon economy.

CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF BRAZILIAN COOPERATIVES FOR COP28:
1) We are concerned about global warming and support the regulation of the carbon market. The last decade was the hottest ever recorded in human history. In this context, it is crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. An intelligent way to do this is by regulating the international carbon market—based on the trade of carbon credits by different countries and economic sectors. We value low-emission and carbon capture models, with investments and efforts for the preservation, conservation, and recovery of the environment. We believe it is necessary to create a regulatory environment favorable to this market, facilitating access to national and international resources for environmental projects in public areas or private properties, such as Brazil’s Permanent Preservation Areas (APP), Legal Reservations (LR), and Private Natural Heritage Reservations (RPPN) – Preserved native forests and woodlands on private properties.

2) We believe that only through people’s leadership we can achieve the necessary energy transition for global carbon neutrality. To do so, we need to explore opportunities for green energy beyond hydrogen. We must find solutions that leverage the suitability of different locations for the production and consumption of renewable energies. In Brazil, the solution undoubtedly involves a diversity of sources, where bioenergy has already demonstrated its value and is responsible for part of our leadership in the energy transition, achieved with local development and people’s leadership. Therefore, we need international support to further develop these arrangements, both in Brazil and worldwide. We should capitalize on our strengths and make conscientious and renewable use of our resources.

3) We support an unwavering and comprehensive fight against illegal deforestation in the Amazon and other Brazilian biomes. We know that deforestation increases the risk of human and other species’ exposure to the effects of global warming. Therefore, recognizing measures of command and control against illegal deforestation is essential and indispensable. We count on the support of all nations to achieve this goal more efficiently. To prevent illegal deforestation in the Amazon and other Brazilian biomes, we support the full and prompt application of existing environmental and land legislation, with emphasis on the new Forest Code (Law 12,651/2012)—regulation that has advanced in reconciling increased productivity in the field with environmental preservation. It’s worth noting: Brazilian cooperatives actively participated, with a prominent role, in the construction and approval of the new Forest Code. As a result, today, Brazilian producers must respect preservation areas ranging from 20% to 80% of their land, depending on the biome. This is a fundamental milestone for Brazil’s environmental preservation and should be seen as an example for all nations. We know we still have duties and commitments to fulfill, but Brazil should also demand effective recognition for the positive actions it has been taking for the environment. We have excellent examples of sustainability throughout the country, and we believe they should receive national and international economic support instruments to develop even more.

4) We firmly believe in the importance of encouraging and promoting the production of solutions based on the bioeconomy, as this approach plays a crucial role in achieving global carbon neutrality effectively and inclusively. To achieve this goal, it is essential to encourage and promote the production of bioproducts that optimize the use of waste and renewable biological resources, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. Therefore, we must intensify our efforts in research and the provision of sustainable products and services based on the bioeconomy. This will enable the replacement of fossil fuels, the promotion of carbon capture and recycling, the reduction of dependence on plastics and high-carbon materials, contributing significantly to combating climate change.

5) We advocate for the regulation and enforcement of laws that encourage the adoption of measures for environmental protection and preservation. We cite, for example, the National Policy on Payment for Environmental Services, which provides incentives—monetary or otherwise—to rural producers who adopt effective measures for the protection and promotion of environmental quality. This remuneration depends on the verification and proof of implemented actions. We also believe that the issuance of green bonds can decisively contribute to increasing interest in sustainable projects by individuals and institutions.

6) We believe in the importance of Brazilian food production for combating hunger and ensuring food security worldwide. According to the United Nations (UN), with the exponential growth of the global population, it has become essential to increase food production to combat hunger and ensure food security worldwide. Brazilian production, especially through agricultural cooperatives, plays a fundamental role in this process, with a significant presence in the global trade of coffee, soy, corn, cotton, beef, chicken, pork, sugar, orange juice, and cellulose, among other foods and fibers. Ending hunger, providing access to safe and nutritious food, and ensuring food availability and supply are the guiding pillars of our movement. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the UN, we believe it is necessary to promote public policies for free international trade. We also advocate for a global fund aimed at promoting zero hunger that surpasses geographical and political barriers in conflict zones, especially for the most vulnerable populations.

7) We request public policies to promote the cooperative model as a sustainable productive arrangement. The cooperative movement is a sustainable, environmentally responsible, and socially fair economic model capable of providing productive inclusion, economies of scale, income generation, and regional and local development. Precisely for this reason, it actively contributes to bringing Brazil closer to achieving the goals established by the Paris Agreement (COP21). We are a modern business model with well-defined management and governance structures that connect millions of people in rural and urban areas. We are driving Brazil’s growth through collective entrepreneurship and the shared economy. We are a tool for small and medium-sized rural producers to reach domestic and international markets they wouldn’t reach alone. We are sources of work and income, enabling professionals in various sectors, such as education, health, and transportation, to offer services in an organized manner, achieving economies of scale. We bring together people who share their savings and, by doing so, gain access to credit and other financial services on better terms. We are the only alternative for access to public interest services in various cities and communities around the world
To continue growing and contributing to the sustainability of the country, we need appropriate support policies and incentive programs for business models that value the green economy, such as cooperativism and other forms of association.
Brazilian cooperatives take this opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to working for the construction of a better, fairer, and more sustainable future for current and future generations. We are aware of the many challenges we will face in the coming years, and we see them as an opportunity to build a better world guided by the spirit of cooperation.

OCB System
Brasília, november 28th, 2023.