Climate

With focus largely on emissions and net-zero, a critical area facing a bigger risk perhaps relates to water — flood risks and fast-depleting water quality, according to a WWF study. And, the warning is grimmer for clusters in India and Pakistan.

The theme of the just concluded COP27 was a focus on implementation. The pledges agreed upon in the past must give way to rapid action on tackling climate change and preparing for its effects. This also includes fashion companies, which are experts at talking the talk, but slow to walk the walk. A first-person account from the event.

If the just-concluded COP27 at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt is anything to go by, the fashion industry has cut a sorry figure. The industry has made progress in recent years, but all that pales into insignificance given the goal that shifts farther by the day. Add to that the rampant greenwashing, the constant self-adulation, and the abject failure in not letting the Global South into the entire process. A texfash.com take on the Conference.

With the intent to ensure that the cost of preserving forest is shared more equitably by the two ends of the supply chain and between majority and minority world countries, Textile Exchange and the Leather Working Group (LWG) are putting out a call to action for brands and retailers to commit to sourcing all their leather from verified deforestation-free supply chains by 2030 or earlier.

Target Corporation would be a new lead funder of the $250 million Fashion Climate Fund of the Apparel Impact Institute, which is working towards meeting the fashion industry's step towards reducing carbon emissions.

There is an urgent need for reduction in material use as also rapid decarbonisation as none of the published ‘net zero’ strategies in the material production sector, which account for a quarter of global emissions, are sufficient to limit global warming to 1.5°C, a report has warned.

The UN Climate Change-convened Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action (Fashion Charter) and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) are working on a new guidance to help apparel and footwear companies more efficiently and consistently measure their purchased goods and services (PG&S) emissions.

In spite of all the tall promises made last year, the global fashion industry instead increased its emissions in 2022. Only one—Levi’s—of the top ten brands assessed showed any promise, a Stand.earth report released Tuesday has revealed.

Limited edition tartan t-shirts inspired by the University of Reading’s well-known ‘climate stripes’ graphic have been launched to support climate change research.

A recent study makes it clear that the whole textiles business model in South Africa is unsustainable and requires a significant shift to transition it to one that is low-carbon and less environmentally impactful. The study has suggested a number of interventions which are currently being explored with key stakeholders and, ultimately, if adopted, would form part of the Retail-Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather (R-CTFL) Master Plan.