Opening address by Jeroen Douglas at the CM50 meeting in Madrid

2025 is a tipping point year. The UN International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) coincides with a profound paradigm shift in the geopolitical, and economic landscape. 

We face a convergence of at least three critical challenges: 

• a surge in global conflicts, reaching levels unseen since World War II with 120 ongoing armed and hybrid cyber-conflicts where power increasingly eclipses law and justice. Non-democratic pluto-populism is the new norm, with a rapidly shrinking civic space.

• an alarming acceleration of climate change, evidenced by atmospheric CO2 now 50% above pre-industrial levels and increasing 100 times faster in the last 60 years; 

• and deep-seated income inequalities, with 50% of the world living on under $7 daily and 85% below $20,000 annually, while the wealthiest 1% captures 38% of global income, a disparity that has worsened dramatically since 1995.

These challenges translate into concrete sectors where Cooperatives and Mutuals operate in the heart. And we are facing the most dramatic of transitions in the next few decades.

Consider specific sector challenges. Food demand is projected to rise 60-70% by 2050 amidst climate change, demanding a rapid second agricultural and also food supply revolution. Agricultural cooperatives, traders, credit coops and consumer coops need to develop entirely new supply chain arrangements. The need for two billion additional homes by 2050, as 80% of the global population urbanises, necessitates affordable, accessible cooperative housing to build healthy, sustainable communities. Global health costs are projected to quadruple by 2050 due to ageing populations, climate change, pollution, and technological advancements, a transformation where health cooperatives can offer a distinct, impactful approach. The insurance sector will confront unprecedented interconnected risks. From food supply chain, to housing, and health, from climate change to cybersecurity:, insurance mutuals and cooperatives must offer smart integrated arrangements leading to inclusivity and equitable outcomes for members and communities.

Neoliberalism hasn’t been able to formulate comprehensive responses, as the model is primarily focusing on steady expansion of market concentration. What unique contribution can cooperatives and mutuals offer in response to these global crises? Our model can and must promote a circular and climate-neutral economy, fostering peaceful and equitable societies with expanding civic space. We can pioneer new forms of competition, embedding cooperative values and principles into legislation. A bold commitment for cooperatives and mutuals could be to collectively achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, setting a powerful precedent.

Our collective efforts will culminate at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha 4 November - the closing event also of International Year of Cooperatives. The first WSS in 1995, in the wake of the Berlin Wall's fall, heads of states pledged prosperity for all within a sustainable framework, leading to the MDGs and SDGs. History came to an end, and we had only one winning model left. Thirty years later, new Heads of States will assess the progress on this vital commitment.

Over these decades, and even prior, the World Economic Forum has operated as the moral compass of the Western neoliberal model. Yet, the current trajectory suggests a need for a different compass. This evolving global order presents CM50 with a unique opportunity and responsibility to chart a new course. And what better event than to launch ourselves at this world stage in Doha?

CM50 has the potential to establish a new moral compass, firmly rooted in the enduring principles of our cooperative and mutual models. Our member-centric enterprises inherently prioritize shared value, democratic participation and control, and long-term sustainability over pure shareholder returns. Our business models empower members, cultivate community wealth, build trust and work for a more stable and equitable economic system.

Our ambition transcends a mere C-Suite Network; we aim to forge a multi-year alliance to deliver concrete solutions for the sector specific ones just mentioned. The challenges are interconnected and through business-to-business collaborations we can tackle them. Together, we can build solutions in the sphere of finance, technology, climate, and sustainability, all through our cooperative and mutual lens.

Today’s workshop is crucial for developing our collective Commitment Plan 2026-2030, aligning with the last 5 years of the UN's SDGs. As we deliberate, we must consider the broader global context, identify policy levers to amplify our principles, explore business opportunities within our ecosystems, and champion solutions showcasing the inherent resilience and sustainability of our membership-based enterprises.

The momentum of 2025 provides a powerful platform to showcase the inherent strengths of our cooperative and mutual models. The Doha WSS2 is our birthplace to demonstrate that our enterprises are not only resilient but intrinsically designed for inclusive and sustainable global outcomes. We will launch our new Cooperative and Mutual Economic Forum, our own Davos. We focus on genuine global economic change with a fighting fund and smart cooperative solutions.

The collective wisdom and experience in this room are immense. Let us harness it to build not just a network, but a movement of leaders -  a new sense to belong. Let us be the architects of a more inclusive and sustainable future, guided by our cooperative compass.