FAIRMILES – How do we take a fair approach to Net Zero which allows us to decarbonise airfreighted fresh produce without stopping access for developing world producers?

By Max MacGillivrayNews, Opportunities

Context and Background

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.

Introduction

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.

Objectives

We intend to achieve our aim by engaging with key stakeholders, including fresh produce suppliers, retailers, airlines, NGOs and local producers.

Initial objectives would be to:

  • Have a preliminary ‘kick off’ meeting with key stakeholders to hear key concerns and agree the planned approach.
  • Organise a roundtable discussion to:
    • Further define and raise awareness of the challenge to be solved
    • Agree an action plan.

Desired outcomes would be to:

  • Conduct research on the impact of air freighted produce.
  • Raise awareness of the issue among key stakeholders and the wider public.
  • Agree Fairmiles Net Zero best-practice guidelines for industry.
  • Translate our common ambition into an action plan with quantifiable targets

Who is behind Just Net Zero?

Fairmiles has been formed in a partnership between the University of Northampton Centre for Sustainable Business Practices, Airfrance KLM Cargo, Beanstalk.Global and Blue Skies Holdings Ltd.

To register your interest in FAIRMILES Climate Justice Initiative, please CLICK HERE

For more information, please contact simon.derrick@blueskies.com