THINKING SUSTAINABLY
11.02.2011 - It is expected that by 2012 the number of people in the world will reach 7 billion. Along with this staggering number, demands for water and food have skyrocketed and the term 'sustainable development' has taken on global prominence.
At the recent World Economic Forum 2011 in Davos, more than 100 sessions covered topics such as sustainable lifestyles, redefining sustainable development, sustainability and corporate competitiveness, growth through sustainability...and more!
Even as the term grabs headlines, the overall concept continues to be murky. Fairtrade International has published 'Fairtrade's Contribution to a More Sustainable World', a paper outlining Fairtrade's efforts to define sustainability within the organisation and how the Fairtrade system addresses this important issue.
Sustainability lies at the juncture of the economic, environmental and social spheres of human life. A balance must be achieved in all of these areas to find a sustainable way of life. Fairtrade plays an important role by promoting responsible production practices that focus on all three dimensions putting people at the center. "Whichever issue is at stake - climate change, food security or water security - people come first with Fairtrade," says Carlos Canales of Fairtrade International's Strategy and Policy Unit. "Sustainability can only be achieved once people are able to face the economic, environmental and social challenges."
Download the position paper Fairtrade's Contribution to a More Sustainabile World (Pdf, 112Kb)
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