This template council motion has been supplied by Hull Liberal Democrats and calls for a commitment from the council to support Fairtrade within it’s own policies and also within the wider community.
Fairtrade Fortnight is also coming up from 22 September to 5 October. This is a great opportunity for councils and councillors to promote Fairtrade products and messages across the area. Fairtrade have produced some great resources to promote Fairtrade Fortnight.
The Council Motion below affirms a commitment to being a council that supports Fairtrade. It is based on this template motion from the Fairtrade website.
[COUNCIL NAME], as an important consumer, opinion leader, should make efforts to promote fairer and more sustainable trade as part of it’s day to day work.
The Council can do this by promoting and purchasing foods and other goods which are Fairtrade certified, as goods with the FAIRTRADE Mark have been produced in ways which provide protections and extra income opportunities for farmers most disadvantaged by unfair global trade.
The council will continue to work with others in the city to promote Fairtrade values, and provide information om the practical steps we can all take to ensure farmers and workers around the world can provide for their families, develop their communities sustainably and take on the worst effects of climate change.
The Council recognises as part of its own commitment to deal with the effects of climate change, that a commitment to Fairtrade is also a commitment to a greener, fairer future globally. Farmers in low-income countries live with the worst effects of climate change and unfair trade, and need fairer incomes if their communities and the crops they grow are to be sustainable in future.
By making a commitment to campaigning for fairer trade and for choosing Fairtrade products [AREA NAME] will be viewed by the residents, the business community, suppliers, employees and other local authorities, as a community that actively supports and promotes Fairtrade.
Council resolves commitment to, and support, the Fairtrade movement, recognising the value that Fairtrade brings to farmers and workers who produce goods for us, by enabling them to improve their living standards, invest in their communities and businesses, and protect our shared environment.
To this end, [COUNCIL NAME] resolves to:
• Widely offer Fairtrade food and drink options internally and in our catering offer, also consider Fairtrade cotton for staff uniforms and other opportunities to use Fairtrade products.
• Ensure that a commitment to fairer trade is recognised as a way to deliver against other sustainability commitments
• Make sure posts promoting Fairtrade and celebrating the local Fairtrade commitment are regularly posted on social media channels
• Support local Fairtrade supporters to connect and use influence to urge local retailers to provide Fairtrade options for residents.
• Use it’s influence to encourage local businesses to offer Fairtrade options
• Nominate council representatives (members and officers) to be active members the [AREA NAMES] Fairtrade movement and partnerships, and support ongoing work to promote Fairtrade.
• Support local Fairtrade events, including by providing facilities where local campaigners can meet and host events.
• Organise events and publicity during national Fairtrade Fortnight – the annual national campaign to promote sales of products with the FAIRTRADE Mark.