Climate Change Accountability at GEPA: Assuming Responsibility for Consequences / Justice in Climate Matters Depends on Fair Trade / Climate Initiatives at GEPA Associates
GEPA, a pioneer in fair trade and sustainability, has been awarded multiple accolades, including the German Sustainability Award, the CSR Award of the Federal Government, and the German SDG Award. With a history spanning 49 years, the company works with cooperatives and socially engaged businesses from various continents.
During the Fair Week in September 2024, GEPA's "Snack to Save the World" action raised 12,486 Euros for climate projects, which were used to support two of its trading partners in the Global South.
As the 29th World Climate Conference commences, GEPA is urging the EU and Germany to commit to just climate finance, particularly for small-scale farmers in the Global South. These farmers are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts, yet they receive insufficient adaptation funding compared to mitigation efforts focused on middle-income countries.
Smallholder farmers in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America depend on rain-fed agriculture highly susceptible to climate shocks. Without increased adaptation finance, their livelihoods and food security are at great risk. Current climate finance flows favour mitigation projects in better institutionalized countries, leaving very limited resources for immediate adaptation measures.
Successful models exist that demonstrate how targeted finance and technical support can improve resilience. For example, the International Water Management Institute’s Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project shows how solar-powered irrigation boosts climate resilience and reduces reliance on polluting diesel pumps for smallholder farmers in South Asia and East Africa.
Socioeconomic enablers like improved access to finance, education, and inclusive extension services are vital to implementing climate-smart agriculture practices. These require appropriate investment from international donors and national governments. Productive alliances and cooperation projects backed by international institutions like the World Bank have proven to increase incomes and food security for millions of family farmers in Latin America and Africa.
GEPA advocates that funds from the #lossanddamage fund should directly benefit small-scale farmer cooperatives and civil society organizations. COOPROAGRO, a cocoa partner of GEPA, aims to convert its entire cocoa cultivation to a "Dynamic Agroforestry System" by 2030 to protect against the impacts of the climate crisis.
GEPA's mission remains focused on providing fair prices and long-term trade relationships to its partners, ensuring more planning security. The company's headquarters is located at GEPA-Weg 14, 42327 Wuppertal. The press contact for GEPA is Barbara Schimmelpfennig, who can be reached at 0202 - 266 83 60, 0202 - 266 83 10, or [email protected].
GEPA's website is www.gepa.de, and their online shop is www.gepa-shop.de. The company has integrated an interactive climate puzzle on their website to illustrate their concept of climate justice. They are members of the World Fair Trade Organization, European Fair Trade Association, and Forum Fairer Handel.
COPICHAJULENSE, another partner of GEPA, is running a project that includes tree planting and training for farmers to raise awareness of the environment and improve eating habits. GEPA's demand for fair climate finance remains relevant for the World Climate Conference in 2023.
- Recognizing the vulnerability of smallholder farmers in the Global South to climate change impacts, GEPA advocates for increased adaptation financing from the EU and Germany.
- The environmental-science project, Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR), funded by International Water Management Institute, demonstrates the impact of targeted finance and technical support on boosting climate resilience for smallholder farmers.
- As a member of the World Fair Trade Organization, GEPA encourages international donors and national governments to invest in socioeconomic enablers such as education, finance, and inclusive extension services for implementing climate-smart agricultural practices.
