CLIMATE CHANGE and EQUITY: Buy Kenyan roses, Ghanaian chocolate this Valentines Day!

DFID have issued an important press release, keeping pressure on consumers to recognise the importance of balancing the social aspects of trade with the environmental ones. Douglas Alexander says: "And buying African goods shouldn't give you too many worries about your carbon footprint. Roses flown in from Africa can use less energy than those grown in Europe, because they're not grown in heated greenhouses which emit relatively high levels of carbon dioxide. The money cost of these emissions has been calculated at £4.5 million, which is a small fraction of the total value of the £52 million flower trade with Kenya. It is important that we continue to support the growth of poor countries' economies in the way that we shop. This Valentine's Day provides a golden opportunity to do that. " There is a presentation here, which is schmaltzy but lets hope puts the lead back into the trade pencil!

Source: DFID

International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander today encouraged romantics in the UK to buy Kenyan flowers this Valentine’s Day.
Farmers and flower producers have been working extra hard to get flowers to market in time for Valentine’s Day given the unrest in the country.
Kenya is the lead exporter into the European Union of cut flowers. Roses constitute more than 70% of Kenya’s flower exports and by meeting demand for roses used on 14 February and Mother’s Day (March 2) exporters earn more than the rest of the year’s sales combined. The Kenyan economy is already under great strain given the political situation and a dip in exports could make the country’s problems worse including many further job losses.
Douglas Alexander said:
"It’s encouraging to see that more and more people recognise the benefits of buying products from developing countries as a way of supporting the poorest people on this earth. Everyone can make a difference on Valentine’s Day including to the lives of Kenyan farmers who, given the current political crisis in the country, have been working so hard in such difficult conditions to ensure their flowers reach the market in time for 14 February.
"Buying flowers from developing countries makes it easier for people there to make a decent living. It’s also important to remember that flowers flown in from Kenya aren’t grown in heated greenhouses so they use less energy than most of those produced in Europe."
Notes for Editors
The Kenyan horticulture sector is the number two foreign exchange earner after tourism bringing in more than $250 million per annum and employing 100,000 people directly and more than 2 million indirectly. It is estimated to impact the livelihoods of 4 million people.
Kenya is the largest supplier of cut flowers to the EU representing 32% of imports. The UK is one of the world’s biggest importers of flowers and almost a third of what we import comes from Kenya.
For more information on where you can source flowers from Kenya.
Trade is the most effective method of reducing poverty and the UK continues to be firmly committed to helping developing countries trade their way out of poverty.
The Department for International Development continues to be a strong supporter of the growing fair and ethical trade sector (positive impact on 7 million certified producers and their families through higher prices, greater certainty, and access to markets) but shoppers also have a huge role to play. Every two years, UK shoppers have doubled the amount of Fairtrade goods they buy.
A 2007 study shows that emissions produced by growing flowers in Kenya and flying them to the UK can be less than a fifth of those grown in heated and lighted greenhouses in Holland.