Ness Bridge in Inverness shines green and blue to mark Fairtrade Fortnight
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Ness Bridge has been lit up with green and blue light to highlight Fairtrade Fortnight.
It has been illuminated over three days, from Monday to today, to highlight how Fairtrade helps farmers and producers around the world secure a fairer income.
This year the focus of Fairtrade Fortnight is on climate change and its impact on farmers and workers in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Honduras.
A spokeswoman said: "Climate change is the biggest threat to the livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers and agricultural workers in low-income countries worldwide.
"These farmers have contributed least to the causes of climate change but yet have experienced the greatest challenges to their livelihoods and regularly are affected by droughts, crop disease, floods, heatwaves and reduced harvests.
"With Fairtrade’s support, producers are encouraged to protect the environment by improving soil, planting trees, conserving water and avoiding pesticides as well as accessing training on the latest agricultural methods.
November’s COP26 summit didn’t deliver the change needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, nor did it secure finance to directly support farmers and workers on the frontline, but the Fairtrade Foundation believes there is hope if we all act together.
"By keeping the pressure on government and businesses, we can all play a role in ensuring farmers can benefit from fairer prices, fairer trading practices and the resources needed for tackling the climate emergency.
She said that much of our diet in Scotland depended on farmers and producers across the globe because we cannot grow all we need or want here in the UK.
"Buying Fairtrade tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, bananas and many other products is an effective way to ensure that farmers in the global south get a fair deal for their work, an extra premium for their communities and much needed resources to help fight climate change," she added.
"By spreading the Fairtrade message and choosing the Fairtrade mark on products, our purchasing power can make a difference.
"Supporting Fairtrade is one of the simplest ways to change the world for the better and as consumers, we can demand a better deal for those that produce our food. Join us this Fairtrade Fortnight and choose to act for climate and trade justice."
• To find out what is happening in Inverness, visit the local Fairtrade website.
