Fashion industry's devastating impact on biodiversity and slow response

A UN report from 2019 identifies the fashion industry as a significant source of CO2 emissions and a driver of biodiversity decline, noting that since 1970, over 50% of vertebrate species and nearly 20% of ancient forests have disappeared. The production of leather, fur, and viscose is particularly damaging, with 150 million trees being felled each year for cellulose. Cashmere overgrazing poses risks to wildlife, while cotton cultivation accounts for 16% of global insecticide usage. In 2019, the Fashion Pact was established, with signatories including Zara, H&M, Kering, Nike, and Prada, though LVMH, under Bernard Arnault, opted out. Kering's Chief Sustainability Officer, Marie-Claire Daveu, is altering sourcing strategies, and brands like Levi's, Burberry, Adidas, and H&M are pledging to adopt sustainable practices by various deadlines.