Can co-ops provide solutions to post carbon challenges? Future Co-ops delegates will try to explore this question, looking at the role co-ops could play in a post carbon economy.
Every year the conference brings together co-op activists as well as academics and representatives from other organisations. Next year’s event will take place on 3-4 February in Cheltenham.
Future Co-ops 2017 will feature keynote presentations from Rob Hopkins – co-founder of Transition Town Totnes and the Transition Network, and Dr Mark Simmonds – co-founder of Co-op Culture.
Commenting on the upcoming conference, Dr Mark Simmonds, said: “In these times of economic uncertainty, resource depletion and climate change, the one thing we can be sure of is that the world will become a very different place in the short to medium term.
“Energy descent, in particular, will increasingly become a fact of life. We need to think strategically about the co-operative response to this challenge. How can communities co-operate to build resilience? What does a post-carbon co-operative economy that can survive and thrive, look like?”
Delegates will also hear from the Carbon Co-op, the Kindling Trust and Sailboat CIC, who will examine the contribution of co-ops to energy, food and transport.
The conference is particularly aimed at social change campaigners, renewable energy activists, members of co-operatives, co-operative development workers, members of worker co-ops, Transition Town activists and academics.
Jo White, executive director of Co-operative Futures, said: “The current energy bonanza based on fossil fuels cannot go on forever. Climate change reasons apart, fossil fuels are not inexhaustible. New extraction methods such as fracking promise false hope and renewables can never recreate the massive energy surplus that oil, coal and gas have provided.
“This new landscape, whenever it comes along, will impact on all areas of everyone’s lives: access to food, transport, energy, manufacturing, etc. Can co-ops provide solutions? The purpose of the Future Co-ops conferences have always been to throw down a challenge to the co-operative movement and be provocative in its approach. We really look forward to seeing you next year in Cheltenham to help us debate the issues.”
- Bookings can be made on Cooperative Futures’ website, with discounts available for delegates who reserve their place before 24 December 2016.
