FOSSIL FUEL FASHION Campaign
Eco-Age
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Partnership
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#SDGAction55963
Description
Building on several years of investigations and research into fashion’s over-reliance on fossil fuels, the FOSSIL FUEL FASHION campaign aims to spotlight the intrinsic links between fossil fuels and fashion during climate talks where the fashion’s climate impact is traditionally under-represented. From NGOs and academics to solution providers and fashion opinion leaders, Eco-Age convened a group of partners whose reach and influence in the fashion space is unprecedented.
The FOSSIL FUEL FASHION campaign launched on Tuesday 19th September during Climate Week NYC, with an expert-led panel discussion on fashion’s over-reliance on fossil fuels. Following this, the Campaign convened MEPs, NGOs, academics, and industry leaders in a roundtable hosted by Saskia Bricmont MEP at the European Parliament. The campaign then collaborated with Alessandra Moretti MEP to host the Fashionscapes of Transformation panel, emphasizing the need for stronger EU regulations to tackle fossil fuel addiction and social justice in fashion. The approach integrates research, media engagement, and policy recommendations.
The FOSSIL FUEL FASHION Campaign facilitates knowledge sharing and capacity-building across the fashion industry through several key initiatives. It partners with key organizations and NGOs to conduct extensive research and create educational resources. The campaign also organizes panel discussions and workshops at major events such as Climate Week NYC and COP28, providing platforms for industry leaders, policymakers, and activists to share insights and strategies for decarbonization and sustainable practices. Additionally, the Campaign supports the development of policy frameworks and technology transfer mechanisms tailored to the needs of developing countries, ensuring an equitable transition away from fossil fuels. This includes promoting legislative action to decouple the fashion industry from fossil fuel reliance and advocating for fair pricing and support for green producers. These efforts are aimed at creating a just transition that includes worker representation and addresses social justice issues in the supply chain.
The FOSSIL FUEL FASHION Campaign is governed through a coalition of NGOs, academics, solution providers, and fashion opinion leaders. The Campaign launched with a panel during Climate Week NYC and hosts roundtables and panels at the European Parliament. The campaign emphasizes legislative advocacy, educational programs, and media engagement, focusing on reducing the fashion industry's reliance on fossil fuels through research-backed policy recommendations and public awareness efforts.
The FOSSIL FUEL FASHION Campaign has several notable strengths and results. One of its key strengths is the ability to highlight the intrinsic connection between the fashion industry and fossil fuels, effectively communicating this relationship to a broad audience, outside of the climate activism ‘echo chamber’. The campaign's launch during Climate Week NYC, which involved prominent activists and experts, set a strong foundation for its initiatives. It underscores the negative impacts of fossil fuel-derived fibers on both the environment and vulnerable communities, emphasizing the urgent need for a fair and equitable transition away from fossil fuels. The campaign has effectively mobilized support and participation from various stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, and activists, through events like the "Fashionscapes of Transformation" panel at the European Parliament. This event alone significantly raised awareness and pushed for stronger regulations within the EU to address the fashion industry's reliance on fossil fuels and its associated social justice issues. Additionally, the campaign leverages extensive research and collaborations with organizations such as Stand.earth and the Plastic Soup Foundation, ensuring that its advocacy is backed by solid evidence and comprehensive analysis. These efforts have led to increased media coverage and public discourse on the need for systemic change in the fashion industry. Overall, the campaign's comprehensive approach, combining policy advocacy, educational initiatives, and strategic partnerships, positions it as a powerful force in driving the fashion industry towards a sustainable and fossil-free future.
Eco-Age, STAND.earth, The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, Clean Up Kenya, Fashion Revolution, Plastic Free, earthrise, Collective Fashion Justice, A Plastic Planet, Fibershed, Geneva Center for Business & Human Rights, Université de Genève, We Are Family Foundation, FReSCH, Rockefellers Brothers Fund
SDGS & Targets
Goal 12
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
12.1
Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries
12.1.1
Number of countries developing, adopting or implementing policy instruments aimed at supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production
12.2
By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.2.1
Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
12.2.2
Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP
12.3
By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
12.3.1
(a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index
12.4
By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.4.1
12.4.2
(a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and (b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment
12.5
By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.5.1
National recycling rate, tons of material recycled
12.6
Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
12.6.1
12.7
Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
12.7.1
Number of countries implementing sustainable public procurement policies and action plans
12.8
By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.8.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
12.a
Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
12.a.1
Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing and developed countries (in watts per capita)
12.b
Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
12.b.1
Implementation of standard accounting tools to monitor the economic and environmental aspects of tourism sustainability
12.c
Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities
12.c.1
Amount of fossil-fuel subsidies (production and consumption) per unit of GDP
Goal 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
13.1
Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.1.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
13.1.2
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
13.1.3
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
13.2
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.2.1
Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
13.2.2
Total greenhouse gas emissions per year
13.3
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.3.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
13.a
Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
13.a.1
Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025
13.b
Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
13.b.1
Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
SDG 14 targets covered
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Deliverables & Timeline
High-impact panel discussions and significant media campaigns to promote sustainable practices in the fashion industry
Widespread education on what is in our clothes and why it matters – especially reaching Gen Z who consume the most fossil (fast) fashion.
Strategic policy advocacy pushing for stronger regulations to address the fashion industry's reliance on fossil fuels and its associated social justice issues.
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
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- Europe
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