Fairmiles - A fair approach to Net Zero

8 Feb 2024

Fairmiles seeks to explore how we can take a fair approach to Net Zero without stopping vital market access for developing world producers.

Climate Change is real and demands an urgent and radical response if we are to adapt to the significant threat it poses to our planet. However, with increasing pressure on organisations to act, there is a growing risk that corporate Net Zero strategies that seek to reduce emissions by reducing imported or air freighted food, end up alienating and negatively impacting economically less developed countries, to the detriment of livelihoods in rural communities.

Our aim is to establish a just and equitable strategy, consistent with the principles of Climate Justice, for decarbonizing air-freighted fresh produce. This approach will enable the industry to make progress towards achieving Net Zero, while simultaneously mitigating unintended repercussions such as the potential loss of livelihoods within developing communities.

In the main, the term climate justice refers to the notion that our efforts to address the climate emergency must take into account the social and economic impacts of those efforts; particularly in relation to fairness, equality and human rights. Pursuing climate justice entails a recognition that the impacts of climate change are unevenly distributed, and often disproportionately affect vulnerable and marginalised communities.

Over the coming months, Fairmiles will engage key stakeholders in the retail, government and charity sectors to highlight the importance of maintaining crucial trade links with developing countries and make recommendations for reducing emissions without marginalising vulnerable communities.

See further details in attachment's below:

Fairmiles Factsheet