CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Climate The planet, and caring for it, shouldn’t be trendy; it should be a part of everyone’s daily life. 23 | DUE SOUTH | Emergency By Madison Allen, Photo by Breahna Crosslin and Elise Paul, Modeled by Jamie Carpenter.

The hottest year on record was 2016, that is, until 2020. These years are tied at being the warmest on record. Actually, since 2014, the world’s seven-warmest years have all occurred. No one really knew the extent of the climate crisis until studies were published on sea level rising, animals becoming extinct, and/or losing their homes. This has led people to make small and large changes in their daily lives to do better for the environment and all who inhabit it. From metal straws all the way to electric cars, people are putting the effort into making changes to help the planet. Arguably, more people began putting efforts into sustainable living because it became popular.

It was trendy to use metal straws, reusable grocery bags, and recycle. But how long does it last? Do people continue these small changes when no one is looking?

It seems like people only care about the environment as a trend. Trends come and go. The planet, and caring for it, shouldn't be trendy; it should be a part of everyone's daily lives. There are some easy ways to make changes in your daily life that can last a lifetime. Fast fashion is impossible to avoid because not only is it quick, it's also incredibly cheap.

This is a major issue regarding the environment that everyone is aware of. As a college student, it’s hard to think about putting the environment over a cheap pair of jeans. Not many people can afford to spend $98 or more on a pair of sustainable jeans from Reformation. It may seem impossible to avoid fast fashion, but you may be surprised to learn that there are eco-friendly and ethical ways to utilize fast fashion. Researching what companies treat their employees the best, what they use in their products, and how transparent they are can help you begin to shop more sustainably. For example, Adidas and Patagonia are putting in efforts to do better. Adidas has begun producing shoes made entirely out of ocean plastic and reducing the greenhouse gases that both Adidas and their suppliers produce. On the other hand, Patagonia has built its entire brand by producing clothes that don’t do a lot of harm to the environment. Not only do they produce sustainable clothing, but they also focus their efforts on real climate issues and provide information on how citizens can be a part of it. By continuing to support companies such as SheIn, NastyGal, and other similar fastfashion companies that do nothing for the environment and don’t provide ethical working conditions for their employees, we’re only hurting the environment more. Putting an effort into focusing on secondhand shopping like thrift stores or reseller apps such as Depop and focusing on fashion companies that are putting efforts into their products and the environment will benefit everyone in the end. It’s no secret that many people refuse the truth of climate change or the fact that it’s caused by humans. Fashion companies like Patagonia seem to be doing more than the government at times. Since 1985, they have pledged 1 percent of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment.

Because of this, Patagonia has provided more than 100 million to grassroots organizations and helped train thousands of young activists over the past 35 years.

Throughout the duration of Trump’s presidency, the world watched as he declined the existence of climate change numerous times, often referring to it as a “hoax.” Without a strong, united government focusing on the major issue that is climate change America has been set back on an already small timeframe to reverse the damages done.