By Evangelina Sosa
The last report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was published at the beginning of April, in which politicians were warned about the chances the planet has of becoming uninhabitable by humans if concrete actions to tackle climate change are not taken in the short term.
Experts claim that we have the resources to achieve the emissions reduction goal by 2030. However, they warn political leaders about the urgent need to replace fossil fuels, considering that the impact of extreme climate events cannot be prevented even if emissions stopped today.
Since the first IPCC report was published in 1990, greenhouse gas emissions have increased by more than 50%. Since then, different movements emerged and new production techniques were developed, such as the circular economy, triple impact business models and thorough certification processes, among others. The complexity of the economic outlook calls for strategic planning in order to implement new economic models and sustainable businesses. There needs to be cooperation from both political leaders and the private sector. They need to work together with an inclusive development perspective so as to make progress through systemic change.
Industrial production and consumption habits are going through a huge transformation process. What the systemic perspective suggests is addressing the issue through a comprehensive approach. It can help create new business models to design products and processes taking into account the environmental, social and economic impact they might have.
Responding to the call for action
The textile industry is one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters on earth. Their emissions impact is caused by the production process and the waste they generate. Synthetic fabric production requires petroleum-based inputs and, on the other hand, the clothes that are discarded during rapid season shifts encouraged by Fast Fashion end up dumped in landfills or burned.
Nevertheless, 15% of the B Corp certified companies in Latin America are textile. Different companies that manufacture footwear, sportswear, and other types of garments are committed to systemic change. These companies implement inclusive and regenerative business models while still being profitable. For instance, Animaná promotes conscious consumption by selling durable classic-style clothes that last.
We are facing a complex scenario that requires work from all economic, social and environmental spheres so as to ensure our planet continues to be habitable. We have the chance of creating a new economic system and a new lifestyle taking into consideration the environmental impacts of our daily activities.
Sources:
“Animaná y el sueño de una moda sostenible”. Available on: https://animanaonline.com.ar/
“Pensamiento Sistémico”. Available on: https://concepto.de/pensamiento-sistemico/
“Ahora o nunca: las cuatro conclusiones urgentes del nuevo informe climático de la ONU”.
Available on: https://www.nationalgeographicla.com/medio-ambiente/2022/04/ahora-o-nunca-las-cuatro-conclusionesurgentes-del-nuevo-informe-climatico-de-la-onu