Fairtrade producers tell MEPs the real story of climate change

By Marcela Guerrero Casas, Fairtrade Africa policy officer

I’ve been in Durban with a number of Fairtrade producers from all over the world who have been seizing their chance to tell those negotiating about the realities of farming in the face of a changing climate.

One of the main reasons that the Fairtrade producer networks decided that they wanted to be present in Durban was their simple desire to make their voices heard directly. All too often those directly affected by climate change are represented in talks such as these by ‘experts’ with a fantastic level of technical knowledge but all too little experience of living with the uncertainty and fear that climate change brings for those reliant on the weather to stay alive and feed their children.

As well as speaking at other people’s events, we have partnered with other NGOs, private sector organizations and research organizations in order to talk directly to people at every level, from the former head of the UNFCCC, to those working at the grassroots.

Today the European Parliamentary delegation in Durban had the opportunity to hear directly from Fairtrade producers about the reality of climate change and what producers expect from the EU in these negotiations. 

Carlos Vargas, a banana producer from Costa Rica, representing producers from Latin America and Caribbean and Chief Adam Tampuri, on behalf of Fairtrade producers in Africa, both spoke passionately about the impact that climate change was having on the ground.

The parliamentarians from all over Europe were clearly fascinated to hear these stories, about increasing pests, storms and shortage of water and were keen to hear what more they could do to get the kind of outcome from the climate talks that producers are hoping for.

Financing, the role of agriculture in the negotiations and the simple desire to see a deal done as quickly as possible were all discussed.

Fairtrade Africa has been leading the way here in Durban, on behalf of the whole Fairtrade movement and we are proud of how we have been able to expose such a variety of audiences here to the views of Fairtrade producers and to the role that the Fairtrade system can play in addressing climate change.