The bells, they are a’ ringing… Chiming in 2024 even though the last 365 days feel like yesterday. As the world continues to spin, what could be spinning out of control is the people’s race to protect the planet. 2030, 2050 are the years earmarked for industries to go ‘net zero’, and this includes the textiles-fashion-footwear-accessories sector.
While the overall fashion industry globally is taking steps to achieve net zero in its practices, it is falling woefully short. There was a huge conference earlier this month with head honchos of some internationally acclaimed brands gathered at Dubai to discuss how to slow down the impact of fashion on climate.
The 13-day COP28 or the 28th meeting of the COP to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change or the UNFCCC, was where the world came together “to agree on ways to address the climate crisis, such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.”
What is ‘net zero’? “Put simply, the term net zero applies to a situation where global greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are in balance with emissions reduction. At net zero, carbon dioxide emissions are still generated, but an equal amount of carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere as is released into it, resulting in zero increase in net emissions”.
It is a complex journey that a simple cotton dress you wear so casually undertakes before you don it, and the entire process from seed to your hands has almost uncountable steps with critical inputs from diverse players forming the supply and value chain.
And these varied and distinguishable links starting at some cotton farm leading up to the dress, when worn, unworn or discarded, has a carbon footprint. In fact, according to the UN 8-10% of global carbon emissions come from the fashion industry. There is usage of polluting chemicals, depleting sources of fresh water, energy… the list goes on.
Fast fashion or the use-and-throw culture has hastened that spin where both people and planet take a hit. What can we do to stop this downward spiral?
While the UN, NGOs, governments work out some critical legislation that push for renewable energy, carbon pricing and the like, it is imperative that each one of us take responsibility for our own fashion choices.
Look to reuse, repurpose that chock-full closet. It needs, especially in our country, also a repurposing of our mind set. You will increasingly play a pivotal role in this transition.
How about some fashion resolutions beginning 2024?
And on that thought a Happy New Year! May you buy less yet dress more!
