This December, we’re reflecting on an unforgettable 2022 and highlighting developments that made a difference for climate justice around the world, as well as naughty corporations and people that have wreaked havoc.
ON THE NAUGHTY LIST:
H&M was caught greenwashing
A lawsuit was filed against H&M in New York federal court, accusing it of greenwashing and capitalising on its growing conscious consumer base. The lawsuit was brought forward by Chelsea Commodore, a marketing student who alleged she had overpaid for a fashion piece marketed as “conscious.” She also claims that H&M’s sustainability marketing misrepresents the company’s ability to close the loop by recycling textiles. Because one, those recycling solutions at that scale do not exist. And two, Commodore argues, even if they did, “it would take H&M more than a decade to recycle what it sells in a matter of days.”
The transparency debate is a constant one. How reliable are the scorecards and indices used for measuring sustainability and social impact? Only legislation and regulation are the answer to countering greenwashing. We surely hope to see more of that next year.
Shein investigation unfolded harrowing facts
Yet another fast-fashion industry valued at over $100 billion, more than H&M and Zara combined. And how does it manage that? By selling incredibly cheap clothes, made with exploited labour in sweat shops, which are known to break down very quickly. Workers at factories in China that supply clothes to Shein frequently work up to 18 hours a day with no weekends and just one day off per month, according to an undercover investigation for the UK documentary “Untold: Inside the Shein Machine” available on Channel 4.
After a lot of public pressure and global coverage, Shein recently admitted that there are indeed working hour breaches and has pledged $15m to improve standards at supplier factories. Our eyes are on you, Shein.
Heatwaves and floods everywhere…
The past few months’ headlines have severely underreported on the extreme heatwaves and floods that engulfed Pakistan and India. And scientists predict there’s more to come next year. Amidst all this, there’s close to no protection for the people burning and drowning. Even worse, a history of colonialism and capitalism is widening inequality. Pakistan has received less funding because of its unstable government that is doing so little to care for its own people. How can you act in solidarity? (1) Follow and cover more non-mainstream media that’s on the ground (2) Head to our articles here and here to read up further and find ways to help.
ON THE NICE LIST:
Powerful speeches during this year’s United Nations General Assembly
Moving on to some of the most energising and world-changing news from this year, we have a compilation of fierce speeches made by leaders who deviated from their conservative precessors and kicked off the first day of the United Nations General Assembly by centering climate action and urgency.
Here’s an excerpt of Gustavo Petro’s address to end your year on the right note:
“The cause of the climate disaster is capital. The logic of coming together only to consume more and more, produce more and more, and for some to earn more and more produces the climate disaster. They applied the logic of extended accumulation to the energy engines of coal and oil and unleashed the hurricane: the ever deeper and deadlier chemical change of the atmosphere. Now in a parallel world, the expanded accumulation of capital is an expanded accumulation of death.“
Brazil’s presidential win is a win for the planet
In a historic victory, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Worker’s Party won the elections in Brazil, replacing far right Jair Bolsonaro. In his victory speech, literally as soon as he was elected, Lula vowed to preseve the world’s biggest rain forest: he pledged to clamp down on the illegal logging, mining, land grabbing that has driven deforestation and destruction of the Amazon in the past four years. He also promised to restore Brazil’s leadership on climate change. “Brazil is back on the world stage,” he said at COP27. And sure enough, Brazil is bringing new hope, even offering to host COP30, the 2025 world climate conference. More of this, please!
All climate justice organisations worldwide!
Here’s to all climate justice organisations and the people who remain committed to a just and sustainable future. Their work has led to the first ever Science & Youth Day at COP27, a much awaited Loss and Damage Fund, the first ever federal Fabric Act, the New York fashion Act, and so many more wins!
FEATURED IMAGE: via DJ Tigerlily | IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Paper-wrapped gift with leaves and decorations