Climate change has a major impact on the cultivation of coffee, not only our beloved cup is threatened, but also the existence of many small-scale coffee farmers in developing countries. The coffee forests in Ethiopia contain wild coffees that are critical to coffee survival.
More than two billion cups of coffee are drunk worldwide every day. Much of this coffee is grown by small-scale farmers in developing countries. Of every 10 to 20 euros that we pay in the store for a kilo of coffee, less than one euro often ends up at the coffee farmer. That is not enough for a living wage. In addition, these farmers have another challenge, namely climate change.
In this project, we collaborate with Fairtrade coffee farmers and other partners in the coffee chain to protect these forests, reduce CO₂ and improve the resilience and well-being of coffee farmers and their families.
Since 2015, FairClimateFund has been working with Fairtrade Nederland, Horn of Africa Regional Environment Center and Network (HoAREC & N) and Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (OCFCU) in the Fairtrade Carbon Partnership. OCFCU is the largest coffee federation in Ethiopia and represents 400,000 farming families in 400 cooperatives.
The partnership aims to support these farmers in their fight against climate change by distributing 40,000 cleaner cookstoves that reduce wood use and CO₂ emissions by 40%.
In the areas where the coffee farmers live, cooking is often done indoors on an open wood fire. This is very harmful to the health of mainly women and children. In addition, the use of wood is a major cause of deforestation in the region. Via the cookstove program, farmer families are provided with a Mirt and a Tikikil, efficient cookstoves that reduce wood consumption and significantly reduce indoor smoke development. Eight local Mirt and Tikikil workshops have now been set up and more than 6,000 households are equipped with efficient cookstoves.
In addition, the so-called Climate Academy was established where farmers receive training in sustainable agricultural practices, such as efficient land use, planting shade trees and income diversification.
1. No poverty
12. Responsible consumption and production
