IPCC Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report
The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change IPCC Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report (Synthesis Report) has been released.
The Synthesis Report reiterated in strong language that we are still hurtling towards a grim future unless we accelerate action on climate change now and throughout the 2020s.
- No new coal
- No new gas
- Net Zero by 2035
IPCC climate change reports released throughout 2021 and 2022 have issued stark warnings and called out critical actions for the sake of the planet that need to be taken across all industry sectors, by Governments and by individuals.
Core to the IPCC reports is the description of ‘human-induced climate change’: that greenhouse emissions are driven by human activities. In summary, humans are the dominant cause of observed global warming over recent decades.
“Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, limiting global warming to 1.5C [by 2030 and net-zero by 2050] is beyond reach.”
James&Co’s founder has written the book For The Planet By 2030: Why We Need To Switch To Sustainable Leather 4th ed (which clearly now needs updating to 5th ed). The warnings issued are discussed and the response of the fashion industry as a major polluting industry and user of fossil fuels in the manufacture of textiles outlined.
Of note is the fashion industry’s observation in 2022 that the industry’s efforts fall far short of the challenge at hand, and that companies must move faster including the switch to more sustainable materials.
Definition Of Plant Based Fashion
Plant based fashion is apparel and accessories that are made from textiles:
- not derived from animals – traditionally vegan products of no real leather (artificial leather called vegan leather or faux leather);
- totally derived from plants – hemp, bamboo, cotton;
- synthetic textiles that do not contain environmentally-harming ingredients like plastic – ruling out vegan or faux leather made from polyurethane and other synthetics like polyester which are made with fossil fuels.
The Problem
As defined in the course of the IPCC reports, one of the problems that calls out for the solution to be fast tracked is for the fashion industry to ditch fossil fuel-based materials and phase in more sustainable materials in order to help save the planet. The problem is NOT that more sustainable materials need to be invented in order to address the problem – it is that they need to be substituted for the plastics.
And that is the actual problem. The innovation is happening. The industry stakeholders need to collaborate to drive the transition. And as a brand that has adopted the more sustainable material we can tell you that cracking into the traditional retail market is H.A.R.D.!
The Solution
The problem can be addressed because more sustainable materials are here, have always been here and more eco synthetics are developing. Hemp, bamboo, cotton (a separate question about the growth of cotton which consumes huge quantities of water is the subject of a separate discussion).
Synthetic textiles which are more sustainable replacements for the traditional synthetics have been and are being developed.
James&Co has prominently ditched the use of vegan leather made in polyurethane and the partially plant-based leather alternatives in the tailoring of our products. We now tailor only in the 100% plant-based leather alternative MIRUM®. But as stated above – that sustainable step is not enough for a retailer to stock our brand and phase out a well-known large brand using PVC or PU.
The solution requires the collaboration and commitment of all fashion stakeholders – retailers, brands currently plastic textiles, marketers and all the supply chain – to end the making and sale of apparel and accessories made in traditional PU. It won’t happen overnight – there needs to be a transition plan.
A stakeholder in this is also Governments. And if industry does not grasp the nettle for essential change, that is where Governments and regulation will need to take action for the solution.
Thought for Aus: Develop Plant-based Textiles Industry To Replace Fossil Fuel Industries
Here’s a thought for policy development: In Australia, coal, oil and gas can phased out and left behind in the polluting past where they belong, replaced by making of plant-based textiles (and plant-based food – for another blog!).
Fossil fuel industries in Australia, esp coal, have major presence in regions with large fruit-growing industries eg Collie is in grape-growing areas of WA and related wine industry.
Phase out the coal and fossil fuels, introduce industries using the plants and fruits which the IPCC have called-out as essential for net zero targets.
Read more about our policy thoughts. And please comment.
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