
The 29th edition of the COP (United Nations Conference on Climate Change) is scheduled to take place between November 11 and 22 in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The event will bring together government leaders and representatives of civil society organizations from all over the world to discuss measures against the advance of global warming.
The last edition of the conference resulted in the signing of an agreement to reduce the use of fossil fuels, although it did not set a clear target or mention the end of their use. The expectation is that COP29 will be the stage for debates on the energy transition, with advances and determinations on how countries can conduct this process.
One of the main concerns of Azerbaijan, the host country, is connecting developed and developing nations. Climate finance should be on the agenda at COP29, with a view to defining how the planet's main economies will contribute financially to sustainable projects.
In addition, the global goal remains the same as in the Paris Agreement, signed in 2016: to limit global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
Cooperativism and COP29
Achieving the goal against global warming will only be possible with the collaboration of all parties involved. Just as governments need to reach agreements and direct investments towards the environmental agenda, companies must respect standards and find solutions that minimize the natural impact of their activities.
The cooperative model is perfectly suited to these needs. Its basic principle is to collaborate in the social, economic and environmental development of the communities in which they operate.
Cooperatives have a duty to promote environmentally correct and socially fair investments, thus aligning themselves with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the UN. There are 17 points of appeal to the global community to protect the environment and humanity.
It's not uncommon for cooperative projects to align themselves with at least one SDG, thus bringing them closer to the goals set by COP29. Here are eight cooperative initiatives that aim to do their part to combat global warming.
Sicredi and Sicoob Aracoop: resources for environmental protection
Although investing in sustainable projects can generate long-term savings, financial resources are needed for these changes to come to fruition. Facilitating access to credit for green initiatives is one way of contributing to the fight against global warming, and this is one of the solutions found by Sicredi.
In this sense, Sicredi offers beneficial conditions for small farmers to invest in materials, systems and equipment that will improve their crops in a sustainable way. Sicredi's support, however, is not limited to the credits granted.
The credit union system uses AI and geospatial data to ensure that projects follow the established prerogatives. There is also mapping of properties, with the aim of identifying whether the areas comply with preservation standards. By encouraging compliance with the Brazilian Forest Code, Sicredi is helping to preserve forests and their carbon stocks.
Sicoob Aracoop, a credit union operating in Minas Gerais and Pará, also has special models for sustainable initiatives. One of the most noteworthy projects is the financing for the construction of the Photovoltaic Power Plant of the Pirapora Project Users Association (AUPPI), which has received over R$ 3.2 million in investments.
This is, to date, the largest sustainable project financed by Sicoob Aracoop. The plant helps AUPPI to maintain its irrigation structure in an important fruit-growing center.
The credit union analyzes each project in detail from a socio-environmental point of view. Sicoob Aracoop works with specific credit lines for modernizing structures to make them less polluting, social lines for regularizing small entrepreneurs and lines aimed at investments in clean energy sources, as is the case with the AUPPI plant.
Cogran and Frimesa: energy to transform
A central issue for sustainable development, the energy transition consists of replacing fossil fuels with clean alternatives that emit little or no greenhouse gases. This initiative is being put into practice at Cogran, the Cooperativa dos Granjeiros do Oeste de Minas.
In 2010, Cogran began a project to install biodigesters on its members' production sites, thus producing electricity. Today, several properties are self-sufficient in energy, and some even sell it.
Cogran also has two solar power plants, one installed in a store and the other in a factory. The cooperative is looking to expand the installation of solar plants, progress within ESG parameters and return to the carbon credit market.
Frimesa is another rural cooperative on the journey towards sustainable energy production. The cooperative has also invested in biogas production through biodigesters, installed at the industrial plant in Medianeira-PR. The plant has the capacity to generate around 8,700 Nm³/day of biogas. The idea is to expand the structure to Assis Chateaubriand-PR.
The biodigesters are part of the cooperative's plan to use clean, renewable energy. Frimesa has also invested R$400,000 in setting up a solar power plant that generates annual savings of R$70,000. The plan is to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions from its industrial operations by 2040.
Cootravipa and Centcoop recycle to build a better future
Using resources intelligently, recycling and repurposing objects is another important step towards a more sustainable future. Educating people about the waste they produce helps spread these practices. That's what Cootravipa is betting on.
Cootravipa, from Rio Grande do Sul, developed the Coleta Tri app to monitor selective waste collection and offer relevant and educational information to its generators. The initiative has brought positive results, increasing the amount of waste collected and sent to sorting units by more than 30%. The development of the open channel has also reduced the number of complaints to Cootravipa.
Providing better conditions for those who work in recycling is also a form of sustainable development. Centcoop, the Federal District's Center for Recyclable Materials Work Cooperatives, has achieved such results through cooperation among cooperatives.
Centrocoop, which brings together 21 cooperatives and associations of recyclable material collectors, closed a dump and built a shed, which is currently used by 11 cooperatives and 460 workers.
Centcoop has also managed to include social security for waste pickers in government contracts, and has helped cooperatives win better selective collection contracts in the Federal District.
CAMTA and Expocacer: sustainable agricultural production
Economic progress and environmental preservation can and must go hand in hand. CAMTA is a successful example of this. The Tomé-Açu Mixed Agricultural Cooperative has a unique model of sustainable agriculture in the Amazon.
The Tomé-Açu Agroforestry System (SAFTA, in Portuguese) has unique characteristics, such as promoting the growth of cocoa in a sustainable environment that simulates a native forest. CAMTA encourages the dissemination of the system to its members, aiming to reduce deforestation and work in a pleasant environment with trees.
In 2019, the cooperative obtained a Geographical Indication seal, proving that the product has unique characteristics due to its place of origin. The certification helps CAMTA export cocoa to more countries, and it already has markets in Germany, Argentina, the United States, France, Israel and Japan.
Another way of producing sustainably is through regenerative agriculture techniques, which aim to preserve soil health, increase biodiversity, protect water resources and promote the resilience of agricultural systems. Expocacer is a world reference in this area and became the first cooperative in the world to receive the regenerative certification seal awarded by the international organization Regenagri.
Obtaining the seal also took into account the social and governance areas, in which the cooperative was approved with a 100% grade. Another aspect considered was the implementation of coffee traceability, from the warehouse to the consumer.
The classification has become a market differentiator for Expocacer. Its products began to be distributed internationally, carried by the Italian brand Illy Caffè to 50 countries around the world.
Conclusion: cooperatives for sustainable development
The eight outstanding examples cited in this text and many other projects carried out throughout Brazil show that cooperatives are working towards sustainable development, moving in the direction sought by COP29 and obligatory for the effective fight against global warming.
With so many positive examples, there's nothing better for cooperatives than to share them with new audiences. The good news is that this opportunity will exist at COP29. Brazilian cases will be presented in panels, ideal places for exchanging information about cooperatives and sustainability.
If you want to learn more about successful cases, Cooperação Ambiental is the site where you can find them! Check out this link for examples of cooperatives from different segments that have developed innovative and sustainable projects!