16 Nov 2017
Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Declares Support for Fairtrade and its Work on Climate Change
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg expressed his continuing support for Fairtrade in a meeting with Fairtrade Global CEO Dario Soto Abril at the COP23 UN Climate Conference in Bonn on 16 November.
Image © Fairtrade International
“My family and I have followed and supported Fairtrade for more than 25 years, and I’m very interested in Fairtrade’s growing efforts on climate change,” said His Royal Highness.
The meeting occurred as the climate summit reaches its climactic closing days, with world leaders joining delegates at the talks to push for concrete progress on the two-year-old Paris Agreement. Fairtrade has been active at COP23, bringing the voice of farmers into the talks.
“It was a great honour to speak with His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg during these climate talks. Farmers are on the frontline of climate change, and Fairtrade is enabling farmers to build resilience. We deeply appreciate the support of His Royal Highness in promoting the difference that Fairtrade makes,” said Fairtrade Global CEO Dario Soto Abril.
Also attending the meeting were Luxembourg Deputy Henri Kox as well as Fairtrade International’s Andreas Kratz, Director of Standards & Pricing Unit and of Global Product Management Unit, and Lannette Chiti, Senior Adviser Climate Change.
His Royal Highness and Deputy Kox have long championed Fairtrade in Luxembourg.
Luxembourg saw 39 percent growth in Fairtrade sales in 2016, totaling over €15 million. Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg, the national organization promoting Fairtrade in Luxembourg, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.