FAIRTRADE AT COP17
From : 28 November 2011 09:00 - Untill : 09 December 2011 18:00
Location : Durban, South Africa
Website : http://www.cop17-cmp7durban.com/
Climate change is real and most of us are feeling its effects, but farmers are at the forefront of this fight. Our sister organisation, Fairtrade Africa, has embarked on a campaign to ensure active representation of Fairtrade producer needs in the face of climate change.
Fairtrade Africa is a non-profit organisation that represents the interests of Fairtrade certified African farmers in global Fairtrade system and promotes their socio-economic development through trade. One key area of Fairtrade Africa's work is to assist Fairtrade farmers in building capacity to improve their technical, organisational and business skills, as well as building partnerships to support their sustainable development.
To learn more about Fairtrade Africa visit their website www.fairtradeafrica.net
Within this framework, Fairtrade Africa is actively participating in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17), which starts on Monday 28 November 2011 in Durban.
As the upcoming UN climate change negotiations (COP17) is taking place in Africa for the first time, Fairtrade Africa will lead the entire movement in ensuring farmers have a strong voice. Previous COP negotiations were often marred by disappointment, as politicians tend to oversee the voices of those who are dealing with the worst consequences of this global phenomenon.
At the COP17 negotiation rounds, Fairtrade Africa seeks to achieve the following:
- To create awareness about Fairtrade principles and how they help small-scale producers to adapt to climate change (Documenting producer stories)
- To provide a platform for Fairtrade producers to speak out and voice their concerns (participating in events in the build-up to and at COP17)
- To demand adaptation finance is available to vulnerable producers (Engaging policy makers)
Fairtrade & Climate Change: the link
Most Fairtrade farmers depend on farming as their sole source of livelihood. Climate change is projected to have mainly negative impacts upon agricultural production, sources of income and economic development, especially in developing countries. While African farmers have done very little to cause climate change, they will be among the most affected. Many of them are located in geographic regions where climate change is likely to be severe, they are engaged in agricultural activities which are likely to be highly affected, and their poverty reduces their capacity to respond.
The Fairtrade movement is highly concerned about the need for Fairtrade farmers to be able to take effective adaptation measures. If producers fail to adapt to climate change they risk losing their livelihood, which directly translates into issues of economic development, social justice and food security.
To know more about the links between Fairtrade and Climate Change, you can download these two important documents:
- Egalité, Fraternité, Sustainabilité - Why the Climate Revolution must be a Fair Revolution - a discussion paper commissioned by Fairtrade UK in light of COP 16 (Copenhagen, 2009) to explore ways in which Fairtrade can positively contribute to supporting farmers in adapting to climate change. Download the full document (Pdf, 580Kb)
- Fairtrade and Climate Change: Why is it Time to Make the Links? - a position paper published in December 2009 by Fairtrade International. Download the full document (Pdf, 46Kb)
If you want to learn about how Fairtrade engages with other global issues, such as sustainability, child labour, GMOs, etc., visit our Facts & Figures page and our Reseach & Literature page.
How are Fairtrade farmers adapting to Climate Change?
Fairtrade farmers are not passive victims of climate change - they are finding ways to tackle its challenges . As such, it is important to highlight their initiatives as they are best placed to know solutions that will work for them. In times of disaster people strive to adapt even without outside help and in this case, without financing mechanisms that reach the vulnerable.
Irrigation as key to adapting to Climate Change for Kasinthula Cane Growers
(Fairtrade certified sugar cane small-scale producer organisation, Malawi)
Written by William Corcoran
for Fairtrade Africa
Satemwa Tea Estate gives smallholder farmers a helping hand to adapt to climate change
(Fairtrade certified tea estate, Malawi)
Written by William Corcoran
for Fairtrade Africa
Fairtrade Africa calls upon the Fairtrade community to help bring the voice of Fairtrade farmers to the climate change arena. Any deal that does not consider agricultural adaptation as a priority condemns millions to death including fairtrade communities. It also derails strides made by Fairtrade towards the achievement of social and economic justice for vulnerable agricultural communities.
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