Credit unions from Ireland and Britain, plus a wide range of stakeholders including the Minister of State, came to the Swoboda conference on 20th May in Dublin to discuss the strategically vital issue of financing the transition to net zero carbon emissions. A report of the Proceedings is now available here and presentations are available below.
Swoboda firmly believes this will be one of the critical opportunities for credit unions in the coming decade, and was delighted with the quality of discussion as the credit union movement seeks to work out the way forward.
Delegates heard a breadth of insights, perspectives and ideas from presenters from Swoboda member credit unions, North American credit unions, product and solution providers and government agencies. In addition, the Irish Minister of State for Credit Unions, Seán Fleming TD, offered some observations of encouragement and direction to the movement. Swoboda is most grateful to all these contributors, who provided so much insight and stimulation. Read a summary in the Proceedings, which includes the contact details for presenters, and the presentations for each session can be downloaded below. A Swoboda thank you to all presenters and attendees.
Here are the materials by session. (Terri Mickelsen from Clean Energy Credit Union and the Minister spoke without slides):
- Introduction, Dr Paul Jones, Swoboda Research Centre and Liverpool John Moores University
- National Retrofit Programmes, Josephine Maguire, Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI)
- The Citizen Shift: Re-Imagining the Purpose of Credit Unions in the 21st Century, Billy Doyle, Dundalk Credit Union
- Galvanising the Community, David McDonnell, Naomh Breandán Credit Union
- A Strategic Approach to Green Lending … or Not? Catherine Davenport, Capital Credit Union (Scotland)
- Greenify: Credit Union Collaboration in Action, Finbarr O’Shea, Bantry Credit Union and Greenify/Cultivate
- Opportunities from FinTech, Andrea Reynolds, Swoop
- SBCI Funding Supports, Seán Farrell, Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland
- Vancity Credit Union, Emily Pearson, Vancity Credit Union
