How Fairtrade is tackling the climate crisis

Summary

The Fairtrade movement supports farmers and workers facing the severe impacts of climate change, such as failing harvests and extreme weather. Despite contributing minimally to global carbon emissions, communities in the Global South are the hardest hit. Fairtrade ensures farmers receive a fair trade minimum price and premium, enabling them to implement climate-smart farming practices and adapt to changing conditions. By focusing on sustainable farming and eco-friendly standards, Fairtrade empowers these communities to overcome the climate crisis, helping build a fairer and more sustainable future for all.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Fairtrade supports farmers and workers who are on the front lines of the climate crisis, offering them fair deals and sustainable farming practices.
• 🌱 Climate change causes challenges like less fertile land, failing harvests, and more extreme weather, affecting global communities, especially those in the Global South.
• ⚖️ The carbon emissions per person in the UK are 28 times higher than those in Sierra Leone, yet farmers in Sierra Leone face the worst impacts of climate change.
• 🌾 Fairtrade provides farmers with guaranteed minimum prices and premiums to help them cope with climate-related challenges like extreme weather and crop diseases.
• 💧 Fairtrade encourages climate-smart farming techniques, eco-friendly standards, and bans on deforestation to help farmers adapt to climate change.
• 🌡️ The climate crisis could drastically affect agricultural production, with up to 50% of coffee land becoming unusable by 2050 and wine production in South Africa and Chile reducing by 40-50%.
• 👩‍🌾 Fairtrade's global networks offer expert advice to farmers on sustainable farming methods, helping them increase resilience to climate challenges.
• 💰 Fairtrade campaigns for farmers and workers to earn a living income so that they can sustain their families, businesses, and communities despite climate challenges.
• 🌳 Fairtrade supports initiatives like planting new trees to help counteract environmental damage and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
• 🤝 By choosing Fairtrade products, consumers contribute to a future where farmers are supported, ecosystems are preserved, and the climate crisis is tackled through collective action.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Fairtrade's commitment to sustainability?

Fairtrade's main focus is to ensure fair deals for farmers and workers, helping them cope with the challenges posed by the climate crisis. It aims to provide eco-friendly standards and expert advice on sustainable farming techniques.

How does the climate crisis affect farmers and workers globally?

The climate crisis impacts farmers by causing less fertile land, failing harvests, and more extreme weather events. Farmers are facing increasing challenges like plant diseases, reduced productivity, and unpredictable weather patterns.

Why does Fairtrade emphasize the connection between climate change and inequality?

Fairtrade emphasizes this connection because farmers in countries like Sierra Leone contribute very little to global carbon emissions but are hit hardest by the consequences of climate change, making the crisis unfair and disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities.

How are coffee and cocoa production being impacted by the climate crisis?

The climate crisis threatens coffee production, with up to 50% of coffee-growing land being potentially unusable by 2050. Cocoa production is also at risk, especially in West Africa, where it may become more difficult to grow cocoa trees due to shifting climate conditions.

What could happen to wine production in regions like South Africa and Chile due to climate change?

Wine production in South Africa and Chile could decrease by 40 to 50 percent due to the challenges posed by climate change, including extreme weather and shifting climate patterns that affect grape growing conditions.

How does Fairtrade support farmers to tackle climate change?

Fairtrade supports farmers by ensuring they receive a guaranteed fair trade minimum price and an additional premium, which they can invest in sustainable farming practices and adapting to climate change, such as planting new trees or using climate-smart techniques.

What is the Fairtrade premium and how is it used by farmers?

The Fairtrade premium is an extra amount paid to farmers, which they can choose to invest in their communities or farms. This helps them address challenges like climate change by providing resources for sustainable practices or recovery from extreme weather events.

Why do many farmers struggle to adapt to climate change despite Fairtrade's support?

Many farmers struggle because they do not earn enough to cover their basic needs, let alone invest in sustainable farming practices or adapt to climate change. Fairtrade advocates for a living income for all farmers to help them survive the crisis.

What actions is Fairtrade taking to advocate for a living income for farmers?

Fairtrade is campaigning globally for all farmers and workers to earn a living income, ensuring that they can support their families and communities and navigate the challenges of climate change.

How does Fairtrade's eco-friendly standards support climate action?

Fairtrade's eco-friendly standards include bans on deforestation, commitments to reduce carbon footprints, and providing protections for vital resources. These standards guide farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices that help combat climate change.