Zero Emission Day - the climate impact of the fashion industry and what you can do
Photo by Michael Lee on Unsplash
Today is Zero Mission Day which is a day to bring awareness of a zero-emission lifestyle, a way where we give the climate a break and find new ways of living. It is a day to bring awareness to the climate crisis. It was founded in 2008 when founder Ken Wallace launched a website in Nova Scotia, Canada, calling for September 21st to be a day where no fossil fuels are consumed (Green Machines).
According to a McKinsey report the fashion industry 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2018, about 4 % of the global total. That is the same amount as the United Kingdom, Germany and France's emissions combined! To be in line with the Paris Agreement set in 2015 to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees the fashion industry would have to cut its GHG emissions to 1.1 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030. But according to predictions, instead of cutting its emissions, the fashion industry is set to overshoot the target almost twofold with emissions of 2.1 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2030, unless it adopts additional abatement actions. We must take action now to transform the fashion industry! That requires new laws, and regulations but also changes in behaviour and consumption. We must produce less new and circulate what we already have. You can do many things! We have listed a few below (McKinsey).
How to take climate closet action:
Use what you have and take care of your garments. Twice as many uses per garment will half the climate impact.
Wash with proper settings such as full machines and low temperature, decreasing the temperature will have a significant impact based on Life-cycle-assessment that has been done on the carbon emissions of laundering.
Barrow, rent and circulate clothes with friends and family
Buy second-hand first hand! Ten times more carbon is saved when we reuse what is already there instead of buying clothes of recycled materials!
Only when in it can’t be found second-handed, buy from a brand that measures its emissions and have climate reduction targets!
Donate, sell, up-cycle, mend and fix your garments if not in use. Most textiles end up in landfills (73%) which produces methane which is a greenhouse gas with a high climate impact, try to avoid landfills for your used garments!
How to take climate action today:
Join a political party that wants to take climate action (and VOTE of course when its time to vote in your country)
Write and share awareness in your community and on social media
Contact your bank and tell them you want to divest your savings and pensions from fossil fuels
Plant a tree
Donate money to a forest conservation organisation or climate activist group
Don’t shop for anything new, instead find whatever you need second handed
Use public transport, a bike or share a car ride today
Cook a delicious plant-based dinner for your friends or family
So what are you waiting for? Together we can make a difference!
Photo by Cherie Birkner on Unsplash