Fairtrade position at COP18

To date there has been minimal representation of Fairtrade farmers at climate change policy platforms. Fairtrade Africa represents the voice of farmers in Africa who are reeling from the effects of climate change. Given the outcomes of COP17 and strategic focus for the system, advocacy in 2012, specifically working towards COP 18, will focus on issues pertaining to:

1. Agriculture in general within the UNFCCC

Fairtrade calls on decision makers to ensure that agriculture remains on the UNFCCC agenda. Agriculture supports over 60% of livelihoods in Africa alone. The status of agriculture within the climate change negotiations remains therefore a key priority for Fairtrade.

2. The Green Climate Fund

Any adaptation and/or mitigation mechanisms need to be supported by appropriate funding mechanisms. This is particularly true in the case of small scale farmers who are already struggling to make ends meet. Adaptation to climate change and mitigation against it represent extra costs that must not be passed on to farmers in the south. In as such funding mechanisms under the UNFCCC, in particular the Green Climate Fund and its operations form a key part of our advocacy work.

Read more about our position here