Fair Trade is about justice, equity and sustainability. It’s about balancing care for people and the planet with profitability to support the development and wellbeing of some of the most marginalised communities around the world.
The current economic system does not work for everyone. Poverty is a global epidemic, and the climate crisis continues.
There is international agreement that increasing greenhouse gas emissions result in global warming with contributions from unsustainable energy use, land use, lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production. IPCC, 2023
Global warming causes extreme and unpredictable weather events including storms, droughts and floods. The impact of such events is worse for already marginalised communities, particularly those communities who earn a living from farming. Floods, droughts and plant diseases can wipe out entire harvests, leaving farming communities with a loss of income from damaged crops and no food for themselves.
Not only do these communities have to start again, they also have to deal with the damage caused by events such as floods. These are communities and countries who have historically done the least to cause climate change. This is climate injustice. In Fair Trade farming communities, in fact, farmers actively take climate action and protect the environment. This is one of the 10 Principles of Fair Trade.
The Fairtrade Standards too help producers make environmental protection an integral part of their farm management:
“By adhering to the Fairtrade Standards and to be certified as a Fairtrade producer, farmers must improve soil and water quality, manage pests, avoid using harmful chemicals, manage waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect biodiversity.” Fairtrade International
Over the last few years especially, the global Fair Trade movement has joined with climate campaigners with one key aim – to highlight that the way conventional business and trade is done is not fair, and has led to the climate crisis. A systemic shift is needed.
More people and decision makers need to know how Fair Trade farmers, artisans and workers lead the way in protecting the planet, and are most adversely impacted by the changing climate.
Demand climate justice
The Fairtrade Foundation is asking us to make a community declaration for climate justice. With good levels of support in your community, the pressure is on for our politicians to act on their responsibilities to the communities around the world experiencing loss and damage because of climate change.
Climate Injustice in Malawi
In 2023, Malawi experienced drought and flooding. For the rice growers of the Kaporo Smallholder Farmer Association (KASFA) who grow Kilombero Rice in Northern Malawi, the start of the year did not bring the usual rains. Instead, the rice seedlings dried out due to six weeks of dry weather. This is when the seedlings would usually be transplanted.
To add to the problem, the rain was heavier than expected when it arrived, so the farmers could not plant the seedlings until the water level dropped.
This is not the usual pattern of weather, and the drought was disastrous for the farmers who were relying on the income generated by the crop to support their families.
Meanwhile in the south of the country, close to sugarcane growing country and the Kasinthula Cane Growers Association, in 2023, floods caused destruction on the farms, including washing away soil and beehives. Cyclone Freddy caused destruction, displacement of people and the loss of many lives.
