Climate action
Reducing negative environmental impacts of a business is a positive step, but working out where to start can be daunting. Use our tools to help assess your environmental impact and to explore ways to address your environmental impact.
Featured content
Is your co-op climate friendly?
This tool will help you think about your organisation’s progress on tackling environmental issues and possible next steps. The purpose of this is to challenge you, not to judge your performance to date.
Taking climate action
If your organisation has never formally considered the potential environmental impacts of its operations, then this exercise is for you. It will help you define what you need to consider, and provide a first step towards a more thorough assessment.
Could you be doing more to deal with environmental issues?
This tool will help you think about your organisation’s progress on tackling environmental issues and possible next steps. The purpose of this is to challenge you not to judge your performance to date.
Environmental impacts – getting started
If your organisation has never formally thought about the environmental impacts you might have, then this tool will help you understand what you need to consider.
“Work that feels meaningful” – South East London Community Energy co‑op
Content by Business Support for Co-ops
Tea, coffee, cake and energy advice. Over 1,300 operational solar panels. Access to energy saving gizmos, insulation and grants. Put simply, this is how South East London Community Energy (SELCE) co-op makes a difference to people and the planet. But…
Content by Business Support for Co-ops
More Than a Shop episode 8: Speaking up for our planet
Content by More than a Shop
Speaking up for our planet: turning talk into action explores climate change and climate justice.
Content by More than a Shop
Blog posts
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The United Nations’ Year of Co‑operatives: The key to success is communication
Read a blog from Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, reflecting on her experience speaking at the United Nations' International Year of Co-operatives 2025 launch in New York, emphasising the need…
6 months
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Blog: Co-operatives and thriving communities everywhere
Ahead of the local elections, in this blog from our Policy and Development Lead, James Wright, we look at how co‑operatives help communities everywhere to thrive, from inner cities to remote…
8 months 3 weeks
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Business as usual isn’t good enough – so what can we do?
Business as usual can't continue writes Co-operatives UK CEO Rose Marley in this blog on climate change - and how co-operatives can work together to amplify their impact.
3 years 5 months
Resources
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Report: Can the North West be a Green Energy Superpower?
Read a report from the North West Green Energy Task Force on potential renewable capacity and co-operative models of ownership.
1 year 6 months
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The race to net zero: The role of co-ops in driving climate action post-COP26
Ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Co-operatives UK commissioned research into the climate activity of co-ops in the UK and what support was needed.
3 years 2 months
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Environmental impacts – getting started
If your organisation has never formally thought about the environmental impacts you might have, then this tool will help you understand what you need to consider.
4 years 2 months
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Could you be doing more to deal with environmental issues?
This tool will help you think about your organisation’s progress on tackling environmental issues and possible next steps. The purpose of this is to challenge you not to judge your performance to…
4 years 2 months
You may also be interested in
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Energy Local: Championing co‑operation and community energy
Meet the team growing green energy co‑ops across the UK while empowering people to tackle climate change and save money!
5 months 3 weeks
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United Nations declares 2025 the International Year of Co-operatives
Content by International Year of Co-operatives
Following the UK government's pledge to double the size of the co-operative sector, the United Nations 'soft-launches' the International Year of Co-operatives at its New York headquarters.
6 months 1 week
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Energy Efficiency Sharematch
Content by Community Shares
Access match funding support to invest in greener ways of operating your community business. Delivered by Co‑operatives UK and Crowdfunder, funded by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment.
8 months 3 weeks
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Grants of up to £200,000 available for agricultural co-ops fighting the climate crisis
The Co-op Foundation is partnering with The Co-op Group to reduce reliance on soy and fertilisers in farming through a new grants scheme.
1 year 11 months
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A new co-operative building resilience to climate change
Co-operatives are being invited to offset their carbon emissions and at the same time help those worst affected by climate change.
1 year 11 months
More Than a Shop episode 8: Speaking up for our planet
Check out our podcast on the subject of climate action and justice.