Co-operative Climate Challenge

In September, every Co-op Group member is to be asked to join the Co-operative Climate Challenge, and sign a pledge to use less energy by various means such as:

• Turning off their TV and Video - and not using stand-by mode
• Only boiling enough water in their kettle for the cup of tea being made
• Using public transport or walking on short journeys
• Replacing one light bulb in their house with an energy saving light bulb

The idea is that for any one individual, these actions would be negligible. However, if a significant proportion of the Co-op's two million members all sign up, the amount of carbon saved from emission would be huge. This reminds me of the PledgeBank website, where people promise to perform altruistic actions only if a sufficient number of other people also perform them, such as "I will give blood but only if 3 other people will give blood for the first time." This is, of course, an illustration of the power of Co-operation; that we can do more together can we can do alone.