More than 300 delegates from 18 countries across the world will head to Bristol next month as the city hosts the 9th International Fair Trade Towns conference.
The two-day event on July 4 and 5 will take the theme of Fair Trade for Sustainability as part of the Bristol’s European Green Capital events programme. 
Inspiring talks and workshops will provide new insights into how Fair Trade works to protect the environment, with topics ranging from sustainable food and Fairtrade gold to the impact of climate change and the sustainable development goals.
Well-known speakers taking part will include Fairtrade International CEO Harriet Lamb, Eliza Anyangwe of The Guardian, the Soil Association’s Helen Browning and Greg Valerio, a leading pioneer in Fair Trade jewellery, as well as a Josephine Aguttu, a Fairtrade gold miner from Uganda.
The programme highlights many of the issues central to the 2015 European Year for Development designed to inspire more European citizens to get involved with international development.
Kathleen Christie, an international development specialist supporting the conference, said: “2015 is a chance for people across Europe to understand that development starts within our own countries and within our own lives with fair trade.”
Bristol and South West Fairtrade coordinator Jenny Foster added: “We are proud that Bristol is seen as a centre of excellence in both Fairtrade and sustainability.
“Fair trade is vital to international development by directly addressing exploitative labour and global inequality. We look forward to exploring its’ benefits with our jam-packed weekend of talks, workshops and discussions.”
The wider population in Bristol can also engage with Fairtrade over the weekend at the Bristol 2015 Lab Space and at the Make Sunday Special and Fair Festival on July 5 in the Old City. For more information visit http://www.bristolfairtrade.org.uk/#!make-sunday-special–fair/c22xl. To view the Conference programme go to http://www.bristolfairtrade.org.uk/#!programme/c1rmh
