The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by UN Member States in 2015 and they are designed to “achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development “explicitly recognizes co-operative enterprises as important players within the private sector to achieve the SDGs, creating an opportunity for cooperatives to position themselves as partners with global, national, regional, and local institutions to achieve sustainable development.” Cooperatives are built for advancing the sustainable development agenda.
Co-operative sustainable development
According to Sonja Novkovic, “[c]ooperatives form an integral part of the social solidarity economy (SSE) and therefore share some of the objectives…and a vision of an economy centred on people.” Further, the sustainability of the cooperative model can be measured by its ability to shift away from capital-centered economic structures because coops are not fully incentivized or regulated by the dominant global free market model.
The cooperative approach also addresses criticisms of the SDGs and the plan to implement them. Mohammad Ala-Udin argues that “[i]t would not be hyperbole to view this agenda as a new way of expanding and fortifying economic globalization.” He states that in spite of a renewed focus on people, planet and prosperity, that most human beings “…will still be lacking power over their lives and stories, freedom from inequality and freedom to enjoy their full potentials.”
Existing tools, models and systems are not equipped to respond to the staggering challenges faced by humanity. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently called for a “referendum on capitalism” because business needs to be measured by “the wider economic benefits they bring to society, rather than just their profits.” The co-operative model can “create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and decent work for all, taking into account different levels of national development and capacities”. Here are three ways cooperatives are advancing the sustainable development agenda.
Democracy drives innovation
Cooperatives are democratic and autonomous self-help organizations that are controlled by their members. This includes the control of capital and the entering into agreements with other organizations. Led my members, cooperatives can adapt and align the SDGs to serve local needs, rather than achieve targets through large global systems, which, according to Ala-Udin, might “socially and culturally establish a set of norms and priorities and could perpetuate a new cycle of power distributions in society.”
According to Novkovic, “[d]emocratically governed, cooperatives form the foundations of the social economy because they operate on values and principles structured to enhance human development, rather than focus solely on monetary wealth.” (p. 9) Sustainable and inclusive development is essential for prosperity. This will only be possible if wealth is shared and income inequality is addressed through the kinds of member-led innovation that already exists in the cooperative model.
Education enhances equality
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations that are open to all persons able to use their services and to accept the responsibilities of membership. They provide education for members and the public. Education is one of the many self-help mechanisms that cooperatives can mobilize to empower communities in service of the SDGs.
Generally, cooperatives are supporting inclusive and equitable training at all levels for all people, irrespective of sex, age, race, ethnicity, and persons with disabilities, migrants, indigenous peoples, children and youth. Creating accessible lifelong learning opportunities empowers communities with the knowledge and skills needed to participate fully in society.
Specifically, cooperatives are better positioned to transform their employees career development by aligning personal growth with the SDGs, which, according to Kwantlen’s Candy Ho, can “help individuals consider their purpose – a grounding for their career aspirations.”
Climate action reflects concern for community
Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities and often do so by cooperating among cooperatives through local, national, regional, and international structures. This means making the well-being of the natural world a priority.
Linking the impact of economic, social, and environmental challenges with the SDGs poverty reduction targets will be a great help to sustaining the economic well-being of the poor, as environmental degradation is disproportionately affecting communities that have been left behind by globalization. “The global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible international cooperation aimed at accelerating the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions and addressing adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change.” By design, cooperatives are best positioned to cooperate on climate action initiatives.