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Chapter 3 Fair Trade and Climate

Change

3.1 Fair Trade and Climate Change

Farmers and rural communities are often the most affected of climate change’s effects and consequences.
Therefore, climate change is considered as a threat for Fair Trade producers’ organizations and the local
environment. The effects of climate change create insecurity and income losses due to factors with severe
consequences like changing weather patterns, diseases, soil erosion and pests.

Source: Fairtrade and Climate Change (Fairtrade International, 2019)

Fair Trade is a strategy with the aim to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development through fair
trade. However, the effects of climate change are not only related to the environment but also economic,
social, and cultural dimensions.

Therefore, the aim of the strategy is to support producers to adapt to climate change by establishing
changes for adaptation and reducing the carbon emissions. In order to achieve it, is starting from the
recognitions of the existence of a severe problem with effects on humans’ activity and its devastating
effects on biodiversity. It is important to recognize and analyze them and on the other hand, accept and
promote the necessity to develop sustainable ways of production. Through its strategy sustainable
livelihoods od disadvantaged producers aim to be secured by the development of projects that enhance
the resilience to climate change and develop more sustainable production activities.

In order to offer the support to producers for the adaptation to climate change and reduce the carbon
footprint has created the climate change strategy and Fair Trade International developed the Fairtrade
Climate Standard (Fairtrade International, 2019).