Meeting #3 and Meeting Room #4: (Limited to 40 delegates/ room)
United Nations Environment Assembly
Addressing the environmental issues related to clothing production and consumption
Committee A (15 delegates)
SD13: Climate Action
Combined, the global apparel and footwear industries account for 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, almost as much as the total carbon impact of the EU. The apparel industry alone accounts for 6.7% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In a business-as-usual scenario, apparel’s climate impact is expected to increase by 49% – equal to today’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
Committee B (15 delegates)
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Fashion’s impact on water and chemical pollution is significant, from the chemical tanning of leather, to the processing of denim. Brands and their suppliers need to collaborate to track water consumption, energy and chemical usage, and pollution levels. This will help the implementation of efficiency programmes at the processing stage of the supply chain to reduce the use of resources and keep pollution output low.
Committee C (15 delegates )
SDG 14: Life Below Water
The fashion industry must recognize the environmental, economic and social benefits that healthy oceans provide. As individual activities that damage oceans are often felt far beyond national borders, responsibility for the oceans’ health rests with all of us. The industry’s growing focus on organic, regenerative and other fibers that are characterized by lower environmental impacts will have to be escalated in order to address both issues. Moreover, growing regulation of apparel and textile effluents on ecosystems has resulted in closures of manufacturing facilities in several sourcing countries. Both China and India have stepped up environmental regulation and a number of industry certifications and chemical management frameworks are increasingly becoming mainstreamed. SDG 14 has also spurred some innovative circular solutions converting marine pollution into feed stock for new fibers.
Committee D (15 delegates)
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The current global apparel market is estimated at $1.7 trillion which forms approximately 2 per cent of the world GDP of $73.5 trillion. Apparel consumption in the top 8 economies constitutes approximately 70 per cent of the global consumption. Achieving this goal requires a framework for sustainable consumption and production that is integrated into national and sectoral plans, sustainable business practices and consumer behaviour, together with adherence to international norms on the management of hazardous chemicals and wastes.
United Nations Environment Assembly
Addressing the environmental issues related to clothing production and consumption
Committee A (15 delegates)
SD13: Climate Action
Combined, the global apparel and footwear industries account for 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, almost as much as the total carbon impact of the EU. The apparel industry alone accounts for 6.7% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In a business-as-usual scenario, apparel’s climate impact is expected to increase by 49% – equal to today’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
Committee B (15 delegates)
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Fashion’s impact on water and chemical pollution is significant, from the chemical tanning of leather, to the processing of denim. Brands and their suppliers need to collaborate to track water consumption, energy and chemical usage, and pollution levels. This will help the implementation of efficiency programmes at the processing stage of the supply chain to reduce the use of resources and keep pollution output low.
Committee C (15 delegates )
SDG 14: Life Below Water
The fashion industry must recognize the environmental, economic and social benefits that healthy oceans provide. As individual activities that damage oceans are often felt far beyond national borders, responsibility for the oceans’ health rests with all of us. The industry’s growing focus on organic, regenerative and other fibers that are characterized by lower environmental impacts will have to be escalated in order to address both issues. Moreover, growing regulation of apparel and textile effluents on ecosystems has resulted in closures of manufacturing facilities in several sourcing countries. Both China and India have stepped up environmental regulation and a number of industry certifications and chemical management frameworks are increasingly becoming mainstreamed. SDG 14 has also spurred some innovative circular solutions converting marine pollution into feed stock for new fibers.
Committee D (15 delegates)
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The current global apparel market is estimated at $1.7 trillion which forms approximately 2 per cent of the world GDP of $73.5 trillion. Apparel consumption in the top 8 economies constitutes approximately 70 per cent of the global consumption. Achieving this goal requires a framework for sustainable consumption and production that is integrated into national and sectoral plans, sustainable business practices and consumer behaviour, together with adherence to international norms on the management of hazardous chemicals and wastes.