Bristol takes its place among the world’s most ethical cities this weekend as it hosts around 250 delegates from 20 countries across the world for the 9th International Fair Trade Towns Conference.
The event will explore ‘Fair Trade for Sustainability’ as part of the Bristol’s European Green Capital events programme. Bristol celebrates 10 Years as a Fairtrade City in 2015 – one of only a few cities worldwide to have held Fairtrade status continuously for this long.
The city is already ‘Fairtrade-ready’ with a Welcome banner at Bristol airport, banners in the Centre, Fairtrade activities in the Bristol 2015 Lab on Harbourside and the Make Sunday Special on Sunday being Fairtrade-themed with Fairtrade markets and family activities.
The conference will hear from outstanding speakers including Harriet Lamb (CEO Fairtrade International), Eliza Anyangwe (The Guardian), Linda McAvan MEP and Fatima Ismael, environmental expert from Fairtrade Co-operative Soppexcca in Nicaragua.
The Conference will provide new insights into how Fair Trade works to protect the environment; discussing a wide range of topics from sustainable food and Fairtrade Gold to the impacts of climate change and how Fairtrade is working with farmers to help them adapt.
The programme highlights many of the issues central to the 2015 European Year for Development, ‘Our World, our Dignity, Our Future’ as well as exploring the newly developed UN Sustainable Development Goals to overcome global poverty.
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson said: “I am absolutely delighted that Bristol has been chosen to host the International Fairtrade Towns Conference in 2015. The city has a long history of supporting ethical and sustainable trade; something I am very proud of. Our continued support for social enterprise and ethical business means we lead the way when it comes to working for more than just financial gain.
“Bristol is a particularly fitting host for 2015 as this will complement our year as European Green Capital. This will be one of many events which will demonstrate to the world that Bristol is a true leader on ethical business, green issues and sustainability.”
