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Douglas Alexander, the Secretary of State for International Development took time out from his busy schedule at the Labour Party conference for a chat and a cup of Fairtrade coffee with Harriet Lamb, Fairtrade Foundation Executive Director. 

The Fairtrade Foundation has been running a small cafe, supplying free coffee and tea (courtesy of Cafedirect) as well as snacks (donated by Traidcraft and Dove Farms) at each of the major party conferences  as part of the ‘Climate Clinic’ fringe venue (www.climateclinic.org.uk).  

The Climate Clinic is run by a coalition of major charities concerned about climate change and is a forum where party leaders, ministers, renowned scientists, opinion formers, environmentalists, low-carbon associations, business leaders and the public come together to debate the issues, spotlight the solutions and press for urgent action and vigorous political leadership.

The Fairtrade Foundation used the opportunity to launch and distribute our new discussion paper on Fairtrade and Climate Change: Egalité, Fraternité, Sustainabilité: why the climate revolution must be a fair revolution and we have also co-hosted a debate at each conference on sustainable consumption and equality. At the Labour party conference, Harriet spoke to a packed room alongside Andrew Simms of the New Economic Foundation and Kate Pickett of the Equality Trust.   

Watch out for a full write up after the Conservative conference.