Causing Environmental Damage Should Be A Criminal Offense, Say 72% Of People Surveyed In G20 Countries

 September 9, 2024  

By Eurasia Review

Nearly three out of four people (72%) surveyed across 18 G20 countries1 support making it a criminal offence for government or leaders of large businesses to approve or permit actions which cause serious damage to nature and climate, finds major new research. This finding is part of the latest Global Commons Survey 2024, conducted by Ipsos UK and commissioned by Earth4All and the Global Commons Alliance (GCA). 

The research follows recent landmark legislative changes, including in Belgium where ecocide was recognised as a federal crime earlier this year. Related laws have also been passed in Chile and France and ecocide bills have been proposed in Brazil, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru and Scotland, among others. 

The survey – which polled 18 G20 countries excluding Russia – reveals a deep-seated concern among citizens of the world’s largest economies about the current state and future of our planet. Among respondents, 59% are very or extremely worried about the state of nature today, a slight increase from the 2021 Global Commons Survey. In addition, 69% agree that Earth is nearing tipping points related to climate and nature due to human activities. 

The survey categorises respondents from 18 G20 countries1 into five “Planetary Stewardship Segments,” revealing that ‘Steady Progressives’, ‘Concerned Optimists’, and ‘Planetary Stewards’ — groups advocating for strong action to protect the environment — make up the majority (61%) of people across the G20* countries surveyed. This marks a social tipping point, with more people now demanding action to protect the planet than those who do not. 

The survey included respondents from 18 G20 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, plus four countries outside the G20: Austria, Denmark, Kenya, and Sweden. 

Owen Gaffney, co-lead of the Earth4All initiative said: “The majority support (72%) for criminalising actions which allow serious damage to the climate surprised us. The majority of people want to protect the global commons; 71% believe the world needs to take action immediately. Our survey demonstrates that people across the world’s largest economies are acutely aware of the urgent need to safeguard our planet for future generations.” 

Jane Madgwick, Executive Director of GCA added: “People everywhere are very worried about the state of our planet and they’re feeling the pain already. Awareness that we are close to tipping points is high, as is concern that political priorities lie elsewhere. It all comes down to what we can do collectively to safeguard and restore the global commons which sustain all life on Earth and protect us from the most severe impacts of climate change. This is going to take bold leadership and a truly global effort, connecting actions across nations and from the ground up.”  

Jojo Mehta, Co-founder and CEO of Stop Ecocide International, said: “We’re seeing significant policy shifts in favour of ecocide legislation at the domestic, regional, and international levels. Most notably, at the start of this year, the European Union included ‘qualified offences’ in its newly revised Environmental Crime Directive that can encompass ‘conduct comparable to ecocide.’ This means EU member states now have two years to bring these rules into national law – a huge moment felt across the globe.” 

“We know this policy-level progress has been significantly driven by widespread civil society demand. The new Global Commons Survey makes it obvious that there is already a strong foundation of public support for this law. People clearly understand that the most severe forms of environmental destruction harm all of us, and that there is real deterrent potential in creating personal criminal liability for top decision-makers. Damage prevention is always the best policy, which is precisely what ecocide law is about.”  

Gender disparities in environmental concern 

The survey conducted across 18 G20 countries1 also uncovered gender differences in environmental concern. Women tend to exhibit higher levels of concern about the state of nature today and for future generations than men; 62% of women are extremely or very worried about the state of nature today, compared with 56% of men, and 74% of women believe that major action to address environmental issues should be taken immediately within the next decade, compared with 68% of men. 

Just 25% of women believe that many claims about environmental risks are exaggerated while 33% of men do. Women are also significantly less likely to believe technology can solve environmental problems without individuals having to make big lifestyle changes (35% compared with 44% of men).  

Regional differences in perceived exposure to climate change 

The survey found that people in emerging economies such as India (87%), China (79%), Indonesia (79%), Kenya (73%) and Turkey (69%) feel more personally exposed to climate change compared to those in Europe and the United States. Those who perceive themselves as highly exposed to environmental and climate-related risks also show the highest levels of concern and urgency regarding climate action. This group is most likely to link human and planetary health and see benefits in addressing environmental issues. 

Data from the survey released in June showed 71% believe urgent action is needed this decade to address environmental risks and reduce carbon emissions.  

Planetary Stewardship segments 

For the first time, the Ipsos survey segmented G20 respondents according to attitudes to planetary stewardship. Five distinct audience segments were identified:  

• Planetary Stewards: Driven by a strong sense of urgency and responsibility towards the environment, this group advocates for systemic change (political and economic) to address environmental challenges. They are characterised by their high levels of concern and activism, with 97% stating the need for immediate action to tackle climate change. Planetary Stewards believe in the close connection between human and planetary health and tend to show strong support for legal measures to protect the environment. 
• Concerned Optimists: This group blends high environmental concern with optimism about the future. Concerned Optimists typically support immediate environmental action and are confident that addressing climate change can bring widespread benefits to people in their country but show optimism about the future.  
• Steady Progressives: Pragmatic and moderate in their approach, Steady Progressives seek balanced solutions to environmental issues. They tend to acknowledge the need for urgent action but prefer gradual reforms within existing systems.  
• Climate Sceptics: This group dismisses climate and environmental concerns. Climate Sceptics tend to oppose policies which address climate change. They are more likely than the G20 average to prioritise individual liberty and limited government intervention, and less likely to think either that immediate environmental action is needed or that the earth is close to environmental tipping points because of human activities.  
• The Unengaged: This group shows a lack of interest and engagement in environmental and political issues. They are typically indifferent towards environmental concerns and less likely than the G20 average to support significant changes to political and economic systems.  

Across those surveyed in the G20, Planetary Stewards, Concerned Optimists and Steady Progressives comprised the majority (61%) of respondents. This marks a social tipping point, where more people care for, and want action to protect, the planet than those who do not. Within G20 countries surveyed1, Planetary Stewards make up the largest groupings in Turkey (28%), France (27% – joint largest group with the Steady Progressives), Brazil, (26%), and Mexico (26% – joint largest group with the Steady Progressives). The Unengaged make up the largest groups in Germany, Italy, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. Across the G20*, just 13% of people fall into the Climate Sceptic group, according to the survey results. 

Owen Gaffney concluded, “We found that the idea of planetary stewardship is strongest in emerging economies like Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and Kenya.” 

G20 countries represent around 85% of the global GDP, 78% of greenhouse gas emissions, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. 

New Survey Reveals Strong Support for Criminalizing Environmental Damage in G20 Countries

 

Poorer pupils suffer 'nature gap'

Brendan Montague

 

| 9th September 2024 | 

Creative Commons 4.0

 THE ECOLOGIST

Abbie Trayler-Smith / WWF-UK

Poorer school children deprived of nature connection: new WWF report reveals a 'nature gap’ between schools in better-off and more deprived areas.

Pupils in UK schools are missing out on regular opportunities to experience nature that have been found to improve mental well-being and attainment, despite the hard work of many passionate teachers.

This is the key finding from a new report published today by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as children go back to school after the summer holidays.

New research in the Schools for Nature report, conducted by The Education Company, and with input from 1,885 schools across the UK, shows that only 24 per cent of schools provide daily opportunities for pupils to experience nature.  

Habits

Tanya Steele, CEO at WWF, said: “Schools and teachers have a vital and unique role to play in building children’s connection with nature – helping them learn about the wonder of the natural world and how to protect it. 

“Getting out into nature is good for our physical and mental wellbeing too – and it doesn’t have to cost the Earth. Bringing nature into the playground, even in small ways, can give pupils a chance to learn and connect with the natural world around them.” 

Shannon Kingston, Ark Tindall Primary, said: “As our curriculum intent at Ark Tindal is to have pupils leave the school with a relentless curiosity of the world around them, we knew we needed to build confidence and a positive attitude about outdoor learning within our teaching staff.” 

Jacqui Sellers, Weydon School, said: “We are doing all we can to integrate the natural world into our school environment, teaching the next generation the importance of protecting it but also reaping the benefits to student wellbeing. 

"We are all aware of the mental health challenges of young people and evidence shows that people with a strong connection with nature are typically happier in life; we aim to give students this knowledge and embed habits that stand them in good stead for the future. 

Affluence

"Whether it’s a space to calm, reflection or learning, our wildlife garden is a wonderful addition to our school made possible through the dedication of parents and students.” 

The report also reveals that as pupils progress from primary to secondary school, the likelihood of experiencing nature on a daily basis at school diminishes, dropping from 30 per cent to 12 per cent. 

As many as 56 per cent of secondary schools said they don’t offer any outdoor learning to any pupils. Beyond the school gate, 79 per cent of parents in the UK believe their children's screentime has gone up since the pandemic.  

The report data also reveals a 'nature gap’ between schools in better-off and more deprived areas. 

While 52 per cent of students in state schools with a low percentage of free school meals are given daily opportunities to experience nature, only 18 per cent attending state schools with a high percentage of free school meals have these opportunities. 

Bringing nature into the playground, even in small ways, can give pupils a chance to learn and connect with the natural world around them.

Overall, the report finds that currently, students’ chances of benefitting from spending time in nature – including benefits to their physical health, mental wellbeing and quality of education – are a lottery, depending on school year group, size, location, and affluence of the catchment area. 

Provision

Critically, being in nature not only helps pupils, it helps teachers too. Teachers can also benefit from higher job satisfaction through outdoor learning, including positive effects on their teaching practice and professional development.

The report includes case studies on schools that have successfully integrated nature into their curriculum and offers practical advice on how more schools can introduce them. In light of the findings, WWF wants all schools to be supported to provide regular nature experiences and charities will be key to realising this vision.  

Opportunities for pupils to experience nature at school can take place more formally during lessons, as part of their free time, or through school trips, extra-curricular activities and clubs. It doesn’t need to be expensive and can be included in a wide range of subjects.

But less than a third of UK schools say that outdoor learning is embedded into their curriculum for all students. 

Embedding outdoor learning into the curriculum means that teachers are planning when, how, and what to teach outside the classroom, and is a way to ensure that nature features in students’ learning provision.  

Outcomes

Pupils having access to nature during their free time requires either a natural environment onsite, or natural elements introduced. Yet half of schools in the UK say that none of their pupils have daily opportunities to spend free time or play in a nature-rich environment at school.

Overall, the report indicates that the most common practice when it comes to access to nature is through school trips and extra-curricular activities and clubs, with a quarter of schools saying that school trips to natural environments take place annually for all, or nearly all students.

While school trips and extra-curricular nature-based activities are important, they’re also infrequent and optional. The cost-of-living crisis is causing both parents and schools to revise their engagement with school trips, and voluntary activities are likely to attract students who are already engaged with, or interested in, nature. 

Rather than addressing inequalities based on education phase and socio-economic factors, optional activities may actually reinforce and exacerbate existing disparities.

We know that spending time in nature is good for us. And there is a growing body of evidence showing that when children and young people connect with nature through learning, there are a wide range of positive outcomes for pupils, teachers, and for nature. 

Mental wellbeing: Children and young people’s mental wellbeing has worsened over recent years, according to experts. In contrast, recent reports have shown that children show greater resilience, improved self-esteem, and increased self-efficacy when engaged in outdoor learning. Overall, children who experience nature-rich, immersive learning are more likely to feel good about themselves, resulting in improved wellbeing.  

 Improved attainment: Pupils are more motivated, less stressed, and more positive when learning in a natural setting, leading to better education outcomes. Teachers also report a reduction in disruptive behaviour, allowing pupils to focus on their work, and benefits to pupils who struggle in traditional classroom-based settings.

Benefits for teachers: Survey data from the largest outdoor-based learning project commissioned in the UK reveals that 72 per cent of project schools reported positive impacts on teachers’ own health and wellbeing. The majority of teachers involved in the study said they saw positive effects on their teaching practice and professional development, accompanied by a rise in their job satisfaction. Teachers also reported feeling less stressed as a result of spending time outside the classroom and engaging with nature.

Benefits for nature: The UK is in the top 10 per cent of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with over 40 per cent of our species in decline [9]. For the next generation to care about, and take action to protect and restore nature, they must first develop a relationship with the natural world around them. Learning in nature and about nature at school plays an essential role in fostering this relationship. 

This Author

Brendan Montague is editor of The Ecologist. This article is based on a press release from WWF.

SPECIESISM

Namibia to slaughter more than 80 elephants as protesters call it a ‘colossal disaster’

Jane Dalton
Updated Sun 8 September 2024 


Killing 723 animals including 83 Namibian elephants will help offset the effects of this year’s drought, the government says ((Alamy/PA))


Plans by the Namibian government to kill 83 elephants and 640 other wild animals to feed the meat to people have sparked a fierce international row.

The British high commissioner to the country is among those backing the idea, but ecologists are warning of a “colossal disaster” for Africa’s wildlife.

Hunters are being brought in to shoot the animals dead because of a severe drought across southern Africa that has left some people struggling for food, the environment ministry says. It’s understood the mass cull has already begun, with the elephants due to be shot this week.

Meat from elephants in national parks will be handed out to humans (AFP via Getty)

Already 157 animals have been hunted by professional hunters and companies contracted by the government, yielding more than 56,800kg of meat.

Officials say nearly half of Namibia’s population is forecast to experience food insecurity in the coming months following the drought.

As well as the 83 elephants, those to be culled – in national parks and communal areas – are 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeest, 300 zebras and 100 eland antelopes.

Setting out regions where the elephants will be killed, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said: “This offtake will assist in reducing the negative impact of drought on the conservation of wild animals in both our national parks and communal areas.”

They said human-wildlife conflicts were expected to increase without intervention.

British high commissioner Charles Moore wrote on social media: “Namibia is very responsible in its use of natural resources. None of the species are endangered, so it’s a good/rational solution to help 300k+ people in desperate need. Sheltering animals won’t help.”

Elephants that see family members killed suffer lasting trauma that increases conflict with people, experts say (AFP via Getty)

But the status of elephants there is contested. Adam Cruise, a wildlife investigative journalist in Cape Town, says numbers in Namibia are falling, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list of conservation classifies African elephants as either endangered or critically endangered.

However, according to World Population Review, the latest estimate indicates Namibia has more than 24,000 elephants, a rise of 5.36 per cent in a year.

A report by African conservationists and scientists suggests the cull is motivated by forthcoming national elections and lacks environmental or food security assessments.

The experts are anonymous in the report because they say they face considerable risks, many having received threats or being subjected to actions such as “the revocation of permits, deportation, or worse”.

“This oppressive environment tragically results in media outlets often publishing government statements and strategies without the benefit of opposing views from the conservation community,” the report warns.

An IUCN map shows elephants are mostly in the north of the country (IUCN)

The authors warn culling will hit tourism, and that cattle do not graze in national parks so culling there will not help livestock farmers outside them, as the ministry insists.

“Elephants who witness culling, which typically targets entire families including young calves, is well established to exacerbate human-elephant conflict, rather than relieve it. Elephants who escape are known to experience lasting trauma from witnessing family members being shot,” the report says.

The ministry said in its announcement: “This exercise is necessary and is in line with our constitutional mandate where our natural resources are used for the benefit of Namibian citizens.

“This is also a prime example that conservation of game is really beneficial…

“Not only do Namibians benefit through the meat provided for drought relief, but the ministry has over the years supplied meat for national, regional, and traditional events in line with our policies and laws.

Namibia has suffered an intense drought (Getty)

“Game meat benefits are also extended to communities in rural areas especially those in conservancies.”

But Dr Cruise told the BBC: “It’s a bit insulting to toss a bit of game meat in the direction of starving, impoverished people, living on subsistence basis without any kind of meaningful developments in terms of employment opportunities and general social development.”

According to elephant biologist Dr Keith Lindsay, the cull will provide only short-term relief and set a dangerous precedent of reliance on wildlife to solve human problems.

He said: “This practice, if adopted and normalised, is very likely to create a continuing demand on vulnerable wildlife populations that would be unsustainable in the dwindling areas of natural habitat.

The plan includes culling 300 zebra (Getty)

“There is also the risk that it will give neighbouring nations a strong case for doing so as well, triggering a colossal disaster.”

The UK-based Action for Elephants organisation warned of “similar schemes on an even bigger scale by unscrupulous governments” across Africa.

“If other African countries with depleted wildlife see that no action is taken this time, no protest lodged, and no consequences to face, they will feel emboldened to do the same,” it said.

Izak Smit, of the Desert Lions Humans Relations Aid organisation told the ministry in a letter: “It has become clear that the human-wildlife-conflict thingy has become a very handy tool and scapegoat to accommodate abuse and dark agendas, one of which is availing trophies in cases where it cannot be justified in terms of sustainability.”

He said communities towards the west were more poverty and hunger-stricken than those that would receive the meat.

The Independent has approached the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism for comment.

UK

‘World’s deadliest chick’ hatches in Cotswolds bird park

Telegraph reporters
Sun 8 September 2024 


The southern cassowary chick is only the fourth known to have hatched in Europe this year - Birdland Park & Gardens / SWNS


One of the “world’s deadliest chicks” has hatched in a bird park in the Cotswolds.

Birdland has announced the first successful hatching in its history of the chick of a southern cassowary, renowned as one of the world’s largest and most formidable flightless birds.

The southern cassowary is regarded as dangerous because of its claws, strong legs and aggressive behaviour when threatened. The birds have killed people, including Marvin Hajos, 75, who was attacked by one of his pet cassowaries in Florida five years ago.

It is a major milestone for the Bourton-on-the-Water wildlife attraction, which has been trying to breed the giant birds on-site for more than 25 years.

Click here to view this content.

The chick, which is part of the Eaza Ex-situ Programme, formerly called the European Endangered Species Programme, is only the fourth to hatch in Europe this year and the firstborn in the UK since 2021.

The parents, a male from Avifauna in Alphen, the Netherlands, and a female from Frankfurt, Germany, have been together at Birdland since 2012.

Alistair Keen, the headkeeper at Birdland, said: “It has been a massive effort from the entire team here over many years, but it’s all been worthwhile when you see this amazing humbug-coloured chick exploring its new surroundings under the watchful eye of a very protective father.

Southern cassowaries, such as these ones in Queensland, have dagger-like claws 10cm long - BirdImages/iStockphoto

“Cassowaries have a reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous birds and their size, speed and power combined with their dagger-like 10cm claws mean we have to take looking after them extremely seriously.

“They are the only birds on-site that have their own risk assessment as they are potentially so hazardous.

“In order to avoid disturbing them during the incubation, we’ve been using video cameras to monitor the nest, and when we caught our first glimpse of the tiny chick, it was a very special moment indeed.”

It is the male that incubates the eggs and looks after the hatchlings, a rare occasion in the animal world. He sits on the nest for up to two months.

Once the brown-and-tan striped chicks hatch, it’s the male that leads them to his regular feeding grounds, protecting them and teaching them the ways of the world. Youngsters stay with their fathers for up to 16 months.

The name “cassowary” is thought to originate from two Papuan words: “kasu” (meaning horned) and “wari” (meaning head). It refers to the bird’s prehistoric-looking casque, a hollow structure made of keratin on the top of their head.

Found in the tropical rainforests of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, the southern cassowary’s conservation status was recently re-designated from “vulnerable” to “least concern”.

However, deforestation and increasing human activity are providing a growing threat to the birds’ long-term survival prospects.

Although flightless, like other members of the ratite family including ostriches and emus, they are powerful runners, reaching speeds of up to 31mph. Despite lacking the ability to fly, the giant birds can also jump up to 2m and have even been filmed swimming.

Over the coming weeks, it is hoped that visitors will have a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the fast-growing bird in its spacious enclosure.

Trump slammed for criticising non-existent 'operations' in schools instead of shootings



Liam O'Dell

INDY100


After a school shooting in Georgia left four people dead this week, US presidential nominees Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have presented their contrasting stances on gun policy - with the Republican candidate now facing online condemnation for using the tragedy to make a point about gender-affirming surgery.

Trump and his running mate JD Vance have already been criticised for comments in the wake of the shooting, with the former’s remark that people should “get over” the Iowa shooting in January resurfacing and the latter said on Thursday that he didn’t like that murdered schoolchildren are “a fact of life”.

But on Saturday, at a rally in Wisconsin, Trump went further and told the crowd: “Can you imagine you’re a parent, and your son leaves the house and you say, ‘Jimmy, I love you so much, go have a good day in school’, and your son comes back with a brutal operation?


“Can you even imagine this? What the hell is wrong with our country?”

Aside from the very basic fact that schools are about education, rather than gender-affirming medical procedures, the Trump campaign failed to substantiate the claim from the convicted felon when it was asked by CNN to provide just one example where a child has been sent by a school for surgery without parental consent.

Even Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice, who held a conversation with the former Apprentice star at an event in Washington DC last week in which he made the baseless claim about schools, told CNN: “Are kids getting surgery in school? No they’re not.”

And in addition to social media users emphasising the lack of evidence to support Trump’s Wisconsin comments, many are making the point that school shootings are a far more pressing issue.

There’s also the fact that the Republican was saying all of this behind bulletproof glass, after he was shot at in an assassination attempt last month.

The Harris campaign has slammed Trump and Vance’s comments on gun policy, with spokesperson Ammar Moussa saying in a statement: “Vice President Harris and Governor Walz know we can take action to keep our children safe and keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

“Donald Trump and JD Vance will always choose the NRA [National Rifle Association] and gun lobby over our children. That is the choice in this election.”

Others offered up a rewritten version of Trump’s remarks.

Fairtrade thanks British shoppers as ‘two-thirds opt for certified products’


Rebecca Speare-Cole

A worker processing bananas at a farm near Orihueca in Magdalena, Colombia (Fairtrade/PA)
PA Media - Chris Terry



Fairtrade is thanking British shoppers for supporting low-income farmers around the world, as research suggests that two-thirds opted to buy certified products this year.

Marking its annual Fairtrade Fortnight campaign, the organisation said the British public has helped to protect the future of everyday essentials like bananas, cocoa, tea, flowers, coffee and more, through their purchasing decisions.

Research by YouGov found that seven in 10 UK adults (69%) said they bought a Fairtrade product, which are produced by farmers and agricultural workers overseas.




A supermarket shopper chooses a bunch of Fairtrade bananas as the organisation thanks British consumers for their support of low-income farmers (Fairtrade/PA)

Fairtrade’s minimum price, premium payments, standards and guaranteed fairer prices mean farmers can afford to put food on the table, send their children to school, cover farm costs and adapt to climate change.

The certification body said that retail sales of Fairtrade products generated around £28 million in premium payments in 2023, which went directly to the producers so they could invest in business, community, healthcare, education and climate resilience projects.

During Fairtrade Fortnight, which kicks off on Monday, the organisation is joining up with supermarkets and leading brands to thank millions of people across the UK for their impact on these farmers’ lives.

This includes billboards placed outside supermarkets in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Edinburgh from Monday, congratulating shoppers on their support and encouraging them to buy more Fairtrade.

The billboards will highlight local purchasing figures, such as nine in 10 adults (89%) in Edinburgh buying a Fairtrade product last year and 65% of adults in Bristol enjoying Fairtrade chocolate.

The Co-op will offer a 10% discount on Fairtrade products for their members during the two weeks while brands like Maltesers, Ben & Jerry’s, Green & Blacks, Clipper and Cafedirect will also join the celebrations, the organisation said.


Jaime Alberto Garcia Florez, a Sierra Nevada farmer, tends to his coffee crops at his farm in Siberia township, Colombia (Fairtrade/PA)

Elsewhere, thousands of grassroots supporters in communities, schools, places of worship and universities are planning hundreds of special events across the country to celebrate the campaign as well as Fairtrade’s 30th anniversary.

Marie Rumsby, Fairtrade Foundation’s director of advocacy, said: “Every Fairtrade purchase makes a difference to farmers’ lives, and we want to remind shoppers that when they next visit a supermarket, they choose products with the Fairtrade logo, as these ensure farmers receive fairer prices for their hard work and can invest in their families and communities.

“Without the stability a fairer trade system provides – and as farmers tell us climate change is making it harder to grow crops – it is more important now than ever to show solidarity so future generations of farmers will be able to continue farming.


“But choosing to buy Fairtrade products helps build their resilience to these global challenges and helps keep our favourite products on our supermarket shelves.”

Elsewhere, Fairtrade research revealed that significant sections of the British public continue to back fair prices and fairer terms of trade for overseas farmers.

The survey found that 85% of UK adults think farmers in low-income countries should receive stable and fair pay for the products they grow.


Coffee beans at the Red Ecolsierra association in Santa Marta, Colombia (Fairtrade/PA)

And more than half (54%) of UK adults understand that buying Fairtrade has a positive impact on the lives of farmers and workers.

Fairtrade also found that the majority of the UK public shares its concerns about climate change putting production and supply at risk, and the impact this could ultimately have on prices.


Its latest poll revealed that 4 in every 5 adults in the UK (79%) are concerned about the potential effect of climate change on the price of food in the UK.

A similarly high number – 69% – are concerned about the potential effect of climate change more widely on the supply of food in the UK.

Fairtrade charity says people are making ‘conscious’ choice to buy its products

Zoe Wood

THE GUARDIAN
Sun 8 September 2024

The charity’s annual awareness campaign got under way on Monday.Photograph: Agencja Fotograficzna Caro/Alamy


Nearly 70% of UK adults have bought Fairtrade products such as bananas, tea or coffee in the past year despite pressure on personal finances, as concern that the climate crisis could push up the price of imported food drives “conscious consumerism”, the charity said.

Against the backdrop of this year’s big spikes in the price of coffee and cocoa, a YouGov poll, commissioned by the Fairtrade Foundation, revealed that 79% of Britons were concerned that climate breakdown could affect the price of food while 69% were worried it could disrupt supply to the UK.

Marie Rumsby, the charity’s director of advocacy, hailed the “resilient conscious consumerism”, adding that “every Fairtrade purchase makes a difference” at a time when farmers have told the organisation that global heating is “making it harder to grow crops”.


Fairtrade has sounded the alarm about the threat that unfair trade terms pose to the long-term viability of imports such as coffee and bananas, as growers cannot afford the investment required to counter the impact of climate breakdown on their crops.

The Fairtrade stamp on packaging guarantees that the producers receive a set minimum price and a financial bonus for community projects. This means farmers “can afford to put food on the table … cover their farm costs, and adapt to the changing climate”, said Rumsby.

“We want to remind shoppers that when they next visit a supermarket, they choose products with the Fairtrade logo,” she said as the charity’s annual awareness campaign got under way on Monday. “Choosing to buy Fairtrade products helps build their resilience and keep our favourite products on supermarket shelves.”

Michael Gidney, the charity’s chief executive, recently said Fairtrade sales held firm in 2023, despite the cost of living crisis.

Gidney, who is leaving at the end of 2024 after 12 years in the role, said it was “testament that, as happened in the financial crisis of 2008 to 2009, British shoppers do not trade down on their values when times are tough”.

Fairtrade Foundation income grew 11% year-on-year in 2023 to £13.4m. Businesses can apply for a licence to use the logo on approved products for a fee, so that as sales increase the fees to the foundation increase.

Cocoa and tea sales were up 6% and 5% in 2023, while sales of fresh vegetables were up 15%, and nuts and oil sales by 12%

Fairtrade brands call for more to join certification to boost impact

Rebecca Speare-Cole, PA sustainability reporter
Sun 8 September 2024 

Fairtrade brands and retailers are calling on competitors to sell more products sourced on fairer terms to boost the impact on low-income farmers around the world.

Clipper Tea, Brewgooder and the Co-op said they would like to see more sales in their sectors on Fairtrade terms to better support farmers who produce everyday essentials like bananas, cocoa, tea, and coffee.

It comes as the certification body marks its annual Fairtrade Fortnight campaign, calling on shoppers, MPs, retailers and brands to “Be the Change” in an unfair trade system that leaves farmers round the world facing increasingly insurmountable challenges.

Fonio grain farm workers in Guinea, West Africa (Brewgooder/PA)

Fairtrade’s minimum price, premium payments, standards and guaranteed fairer prices mean farmers can afford to put food on the table, send their children to school, cover farm costs and adapt to climate change.

UK-based brewer Brewgooder said it hopes to see more brewers buying Fairtrade fonio grain after it recently established the first Fairtrade-certified brewing supply chain.

Set up in just six months, the supply chain aims to ensure farmers in Guinea, West Africa, are paid a fairer price for their work and grain, with 67 producers already signing up according to local cooperatives.

Brewgooder has made the new supply chain, named “open grain” accessible to any UK brewer or business so they can maximise the impact sales have on farmer communities.

Alan Mahon, founder at Brewgooder, said: “Alone we can make a small but meaningful difference, but as an entire industry – even if only adopting Fairtrade fonio in small amounts – we can support farmers in Guinea make a game-changing impact on these communities while simultaneously bringing quality and desirable products to market.

“Enabling other beer producers to use our supply chain makes that possible.

Brewgooder’s new IPA is made from fonio grain sourced on Fairtrade terms from farmers in Guinea (Brewgooder/PA)

“We’re not adopting Fairtrade fonio to give ourselves a (unique selling point), but to show what can be achieved when you collaborate with farming communities for a fairer deal.”

Organic brand Clipper, which is one of Fairtrade’s first and longest-standing tea partners, has long called for fairer prices across the sector.

Hayley Murgett, head of hot drinks marketing at Clipper-owner Ecotone, said if half the tea in the UK was sold as Fairtrade, the difference it could make to farmers would be “absolutely insane”.

“We’d love to see more and more brands coming onto the Fairtrade premium,” she said.

“The more tea that can be sold with Fairtrade, the better we can improve those lives of the workers and farmers, who will then be able to better secure their future as well through climate combating measures.”

The tea sector is among those facing more volatility in recent years including Indian tea prices surging over the summer as extreme weather hit yields, especially in Assam.

Clipper’s cookstoves project in India have helped to prevent deforestation (Fairtrade/PA)

Ms Murgett said Fairtrade’s premium can help farmers “offset some of the impacts”.

“I think that’s where Fairtrade and organic play a really important role for us to try and secure the future of tea,” she said.

With British shoppers making particularly heritage-based decisions about the brand of tea they choose, Ms Murgett said Clipper’s focus is how it can “disrupt that kind of pattern” and “get them to question that tea choice so they could make that sort of more Fairtrade and organic impact”.

Daniel Parr, Ecotone’s European R&D team leader, also said shopper’s value perception behind tea needs to be “much higher”, citing the fact that people are now willing to pay premium prices on coffee because of barista culture.

“You look at all the skill and craft and effort that goes into making a kilo of tea and then you’re seeing a few pence per tea bag,” he said.

“Sustainable pricing is key but it has to be part of moving the dial on value perception.”

The Co-op said more retailers need to join the Fairtrade movement to maximise its impact (Alamy/PA)

He added that more tea companies buying Fairtrade is “exactly what we we want to see”.

Meanwhile, the Co-op said they would like to see other retailers to join the Fairtrade movement to help tackle the supply chain challenges that will intensify over the next decades.

It comes as the Co-op became the first UK retailer to move its entire range of fresh-cut roses to be 100% Fairtrade, which will help to fund social and community projects like supporting almost 5,000 female flower farm workers in Kenya.

Emily Pearce, senior sustainable sourcing and international development manager at the supermarket said: “As the second largest Fairtrade seller in the world, we’re proud to continue to pioneer Fairtrade by being the first UK retailer to extend our commitment to sourcing 100% Fairtrade roses.

“It’s incredible to see first-hand how our Fairtrade commitments change lives and build more resilient supply chains, yet we need others to join the Fairtrade movement to tackle the challenges the food systems face in the next 30 years.”