Fair Trade in Local Government: why bother?

In July 2006, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Government agreed a set of groundbreaking criteria to become the world’s first Fair Trade Nations. Wales achieved this in June 2008, and the Scottish Fair Trade Forum has recently launched ‘the Final Push’ to achieve its Fair Trade Nation targets by the end of 2011.

Local Authorities are a key factor in the success of this campaign. To become a Fair Trade Nation, all 32 of Scotland’s Local Authorities must have passed a resolution to work towards becoming a Fairtrade Zone, and 55% - or 18 - must have achieved this status already. Thus far, ten Local Authorities have achieved Fairtrade Zone status and 19 others are working toward it.

The Scottish Fair Trade Forum and The Highland Council are hosting this conference to provide a forum for discussion and collaboration by representatives from local government and other key players. This will be an opportunity to build on the expertise, enthusiasm and energy Scottish Local Authorities have committed to Fair Trade in recent years.

To download the brochure of our conference for counselors and council officials, click here.