No. 102
July 2025
GLOBAL WARMING AND THE FASHION INDUSTRY
By Peter Solomon and Barbara Ellis
Are we members of the Earthling Tribe, or are we a disparate group of humans, each entitled to get ahead personally, whatever damage this does to the Planet?
Increased use of coal and petroleum over the last two centuries has led to a 60% increase in the atmospheric carbon dioxide. That molecule absorbs heat that is trying to escape Earth and sends half of it back. The result today is an increase of global temperatures of 1.6°C. Predictions for 2100 are as large as a 4°C increase.
About 15% of the new atmospheric CO2 comes from transportation. The generation of electricity in fossil fuel power plants contributes about 30%.
Surprisingly, the fashion industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, responsible for an estimated 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
This makes the fashion industry a larger emitter than international air travel and shipping combined. The industry’s high carbon footprint stems from energy-intensive production processes, long supply chains, and the prevalence of synthetic materials like polyester. Fast fashion, with its rapid production cycles and reliance on inexpensive, often synthetic materials like polyester, is a major contributor to these emissions. The current love-affair with Fast Fashion means that a piece of clothing is worn less than 10 times (often way less) and 85% of all clothing production each year ends up in landfills or is burned.
Added to the fabric itself are the toxic dyes needed to make the irresistible prints. You may actually be allergic to these dyes, but if you don’t have a reaction, you can unknowingly have health problems caused by them, such as autoimmune diseases, skin and breathing problems and even infertility.
Where are these toxic Fast Fashion dumping grounds? Ghana is maybe the biggest one, with clothing that will never disintegrate overflowing landfills and spilling into waterways and onto beaches. Chile’s Atacama Desert is now home to some 40,000 tons of clothing.
H&M had a 2024 net profit of $18 billion. The family that runs H&M is estimated to be worth $20 billion.
The fashion industry is a major user of palm oil, the production of which is decimating the rainforest in Indonesia.
Without significant changes, the fashion industry’s emissions are projected to increase, potentially exceeding 2.1 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
The question is, who owns Planet Earth? Are we an Earthling Tribe, or are we a disparate group of humans, each entitled to get ahead personally, whatever damage this does to the Planet? This needs to be addressed by the governments of every country, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations, and the World Court.