How much is at risk?

Ecological threats

This is evidence that cities affect global environments with high rates of consumption that draws on natural resources and effect on natural habitats. The highly demanding consumption culture taps into precious water resources. Cotton accounts for about 33% of all fibers found in textiles. According to non-governmental organisation World Wide Fund, 20,000 litres of water is needed to produce just 1kg of cotton, equivalent to a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. 2,700 liters of water is needed to make just one cotton shirt — that is what one person drinks in two-and-a-half years.

Pollution

Despite using just about 3% of the world’s arable land, cotton farming is responsible for 24% of insecticides and 11% of pesticides.

Garment manufacturing is the cause of about 20% of industrial waste pollution. Water used each year for fabric dyeing alone which is enough to fill 2 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Global climate change

Polyester production for textiles released about 706 billion kg (1.5 trillion pounds) of greenhouse gases in 2015, the equivalent of 185 coal-fired power plants’ annual emissions.

A report in October, by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, estimated that if 80 per cent of the population of emerging economies reached the same clothing-consumption level as that of the Western world by 2025, carbon dioxide emissions would increase by 77 per cent to 3,030 million metric tons, up from 1,714 million metric tons in 2015. This increases the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, one of the key drivers of global warming.

Higher carbon dioxide acidifies sea water. Warming ocean temperatures cause coral bleaching. 20% of coral reefs are already destroyed and 50% are at risk.

Moral of the story

Humanity is the main driver of environmental problems and we need to take charge of our behaviour. Technological coping is superficial at best.

Under reactions

People tend to judge state of affairs by how well they can recall a class of events. This is the availability heuristic. We are less likely to take action towards catastrophes which are expected to happen but have not been experienced yet. We need to reflect on our behaviour while we indulge in regular hangouts at shopping malls for if we were to believe that the lack of direct physical symptoms signal things are under control, at least for a while now, we would be gravely mistaken.

Over reactions

The media likes to focus on sensation punctuated events, not chronic sustained issues. While being inspired by fancy newly developed eco-dresses and admiring the new fashion statements, be sure to do the right things; control habits of consumption and organise yourself to deal with the major concerns at hand. Governments need to be careful not to focus on problems that are dramatic which are actually less damaging. Attention should be taken to get rid of cognitive and perceptual biases. Consistent monitoring of social trends, education and research on more effective ways to direct public behaviour and employ new methods of coping is necessary.