Celebrating #Coops Day, the United Nations' International Year of Co-operatives and... quantum glaciers?

The United Nations has designated the year 2025 as the International Year of Co-operatives... and also the Year of Quantum Science and Technology, Peace and Trust, and Glacier Preservation, writes Co-operatives UK Communications and PR Manager, Dom Mills. That’s a bit of a mouthful, so how (if at all) are these themes connected? I'll do my best to weave them together - and today (6 July) on the International Day of Co-operatives, I'm looking to give the co-operatives bit a starring role of course.

Quantum co-operatives: entangling communities

Quantum science and technology seems pretty far removed from co-operatives. I was pretty much at that conclusion even without any reading up on quantum theory.  However... with a bit of research, I can say with some certainty that quantum science is about understanding the fundamental particles and forces that make up our universe (big stuff). Co-operatives, similarly, are about understanding the fundamental needs and aspirations of communities and building structures that serve them equitably. And then giving people communities power and control to satisfy those needs and aspirations (also big stuff).

In quantum mechanics, there’s this quirky concept called entanglement, where particles become interconnected and the state of one instantly influences the state of another, no matter the distance. Co-operatives operate on a similar principle: individuals and communities are interconnected and the actions of one member can positively impact the entire group. By embracing the spirit of co-operation, we create resilient, adaptive systems that can face the uncertainties of our ever-changing world - much like quantum particles (I'm doing pretty well here I think)!

Peace, trust and co-operative values

Peace and trust should be the bedrock of any thriving community. And co-operatives foster an environment where trust and mutual respect are paramount. Members work together towards common goals, using a collaborative approach that builds stronger communities. We know that co-operatives do more for their communities (after all, care for community is one of the guiding principles).

Imagine if every community operated like a well-oiled co-operative: sharing resources, supporting one another, and striving for the common good. It’s a blueprint for sustainable development and peaceful coexistence - which the UN acknowledges by designating co-operatives as an international year (and not for the first time). By promoting and backing co-operatives, we’re planting the seeds of peace and trust in societies around the globe.

Saving glaciers, one co-operative at a time

Now, onto a cooler - though alarming - topic, so let’s talk glaciers. As breathtaking landscapes, they are crucial to our planet’s ecosystem, acting as natural water reservoirs and influencing weather patterns. The alarming element, as we all know, is they're melting at a worrying rate due to climate change. Time is running out but we can all act - and collectively. 

Community energy and other environmental co-operatives like retrofit businesses are sprouting up across the world, championing sustainable practices and renewable energy. Co-operatives are about people. They're member-owned, so engagement is higher - people are more engaged in making a difference, individually and collectively. From community-owned renewable energy projects to our co-operative retailers championing Fair Trade and sustainable agriculture (and net zero) co-operatives are fighting climate change and protecting our natural world. 

Li Junhua, under-secretary-general of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said, the International Year of Cooperatives will be “an opportunity to mobilise all stakeholders to support and expand co-operatives everywhere, strengthening their contributions for a better world.” It's about empowerment. Co-operatives empower people and communities to make a difference. The theme of empowerment resonates with us all, and especially younger generations, who often feel powerless amid major climate and work concerns.

By sharing power and control we can make more of a difference. That includes working collectively to preserve our planet, including glaciers and everything else on this huge rock. You'd think (hope) that would be of paramount importance to us all.

Why co-operatives come to the fore

So I think, on #CoopsDay, we've just about managed to place co-operatives at the heart of a multifaceted 2025 celebration (another mouthful). Co-operation, mutual aid, and collective action are the keys to unlocking solutions in every sphere - from cutting-edge quantum technology to fostering global peace and trust to preserving our planet’s precious glaciers.

Co-operatives empower individuals, giving them a stake and say in their own futures. They build stronger, more resilient communities that can weather the storms of change - whether those storms come in the form of economic uncertainty, social upheaval, or melting ice caps. And they fix things - and there's plenty that needs fixing (just look at recent sewage and Post Offices scandals or social care and housing crises).

So I say, on International Co-operative Day - and looking ahead to 2025 - let’s celebrate the power of co-operatives to transform our world for the better. And whether you're pondering the mysteries of quantum particles, fostering peace and trust, or saving glaciers, perhaps your mind will terms to co-operatives and co-operation.