COP26 has been and gone. The SEC in Glasgow is back to hosting concerts and trade conferences. Among the presidents, prime ministers, special envoys, diplomats and government negotiators were also some other important visitors. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the same attention from the global media that gathered in Glasgow but their message is central to tackling climate change. Those visitors were farmers and workers from Fairtrade Africa, the Central and Latin American Fairtrade network (CLAC) and the Asian and Pacific Fairtrade producer network (NAPP) as well as Fairtrade International.
"The time for promises has passed. Now is the time for actions." Bismark Kpabitey, a Ghanaian cocoa farmer
What we asked at COP 26
At the start of COP26, these Fair Trade farmers and workers published an open letter asking for four key outcomes from COP26:
- that there should be no delay in delivering on the promise to deliver $100bn in climate finance and that this climate finance should reach farmers and workers directly;
- that nations are honest about their carbon emissions making sure that Net Zero commitments include targets and policies which will reduce emissions from imported goods, not just domestic emissions;
- that trade deals are agreed that drive trade in fair and low-carbon produce, helping farmers and businesses that invest in sustainability and tackling the climate crisis;
- and that business regulations are strengthened so that businesses are encouraged to invest in sustainable supply chains, pay fair prices to farmers, and take ownership of the environmental issues in their supply chains.
"It is hard to understand why the climate finance promise of $100 billion per year is still outstanding. It is painful to see that no commitment at all has been made to pay for the unavoidable loss and damage faced by our communities." Mary Kinyua, Kenyan flower farmer
No climate justice without trade justice
This approach was also taken in the joint position paper produced by Fair Trade organisations and networks in the run up to COP26 which the Scottish Fair Trade Forum signed alongside the World Fair Trade Organisation, Fairtrade International, the Fairtrade Foundation and several others. The key message of the Fair Trade movement at COP26 was clear – there can be no climate justice without trade justice. This message was at the heart of our short film produced for COP26 which we worked on with representatives from the World Fair Trade Organisation, Fairtrade Foundation and the Sholi Coffee Co-operative in Rwanda.
What changed after COP 26?
One of the biggest disappointments of COP26 was the failure to move quickly enough on climate finance. Fairtrade International’s Head of Delegation for COP26, Kenyan flower farmer, Mary Kinyua, commented after COP26 that, “It is hard to understand why the climate finance promise of $100 billion per year is still outstanding. It is painful to see that no commitment at all has been made to pay for the unavoidable loss and damage faced by our communities”. There was some progress at COP26 to be welcomed including promises on deforestation and the announcement of a ‘Just Rural Transition Fund’.
We need to keep alert to how funds are used - to make sure that farmers and workers at the frontline get the support that they need. It is these farmers and workers that are already responding to the climate emergency – they have the experience of dealing with climate change at the frontline and have developed the skills needed in the global response to the climate emergency.
As Bismark Kpabitey, a Ghanaian cocoa farmer attending COP26 said when speaking at our Scottish Fair Trade Awards ceremony, “The time for promises has passed. Now is the time for actions”.
The key message of the Fair Trade movement at COP26 was clear – there can be no climate justice without trade justice.
What action can you take?
Fairtrade Fortnight
The Scottish Fair Trade Forum supports Fairtrade Fortnight which will run from 21 February to 6 March this year. The Fairtrade Foundation is asking schools to stand with farmers and workers seeking climate justice. They have created new films, lesson plans and activities that will help you to explore the inequalities at the heart of the climate crisis, and learn how governments, businesses, schools and individuals can take collective action for a fairer future. Get involved with Fairtrade Fortnight
90kg Rice Challenge
Take on the 90kg Rice Challenge with Just Trading Scotland! When schools sign up they receive a Challenge Pack including Climate Justice and Trade justice teaching resources, written by WOSDEC using photos and video material from the rice farmers in Malawi. This lovely video explains the challenge.
And finally
Find out more about Fair Trade and climate change by tuning in to The Faircast – podcast conversations about Fair Trade, people and planet. Read more about Fair Trade and climate change and ask your MSPs to sign the Fair Trade Pledge.
