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Wildfires Devastate Los Angeles: A Climate Change Wake-Up Call

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Extreme weather in Los Angeles: why climate change action cannot wait


Our thoughts are with our friends and everyone affected in Los Angeles, as relentless wildfires devastate the region, destroying thousands of homes and businesses. The disaster, fuelled by powerful Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation resulting from a prolonged lack of rain, paints a grim picture of a landscape increasingly vulnerable to climate extremes. These recurring tragedies underscore an urgent truth: addressing climate change is no longer optional—it is a matter of survival.

Five major wildfires devastating Los Angeles: causes and impact


At least five major fires are active in Los Angeles County, including the Palisades and the Eaton Fire. While investigations into the causes of the largest blazes are still ongoing, the conditions driving their rapid spread are unmistakable: months of little to no rain, critically low humidity, and widespread drought. The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles had already warned of the danger, citing damaging winds of up to 100 mph and extremely dry conditions as a perfect storm for “extreme fire behaviour”.

This devastating fire season comes after an exceptionally dry year. Over 83% of Los Angeles County is in drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. In fact, Los Angeles has not seen even a quarter of an inch of rain since April, as reported by Accuweather.

Whether caused by human activity or natural forces, these wildfires that devastate Los Angeles are yet another stark reminder of our collective disregard for nature. Recently, the Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed a grim milestone: 2024 has become the first year to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, marking the warmest year since record-keeping began in 1850.

The role of climate change in extreme weather


Experts agree that climate change is reshaping baseline conditions, significantly increasing the likelihood of such catastrophic fires. California, like much of the western United States, endured a decades-long drought that ended only two years ago, leaving the region exceptionally vulnerable to fire outbreaks.

The wildfires devastating Los Angeles are shocking, but, sadly, they are no longer surprising. As our planet warms, extreme weather events have shifted from rare anomalies to an unsettling new normal. These fires—among the most destructive in LA’s history—carry an urgent message: climate change is not a distant threat but a present crisis. The time to act decisively is not “before it’s too late”—it is now, because we are already running out of time.

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Fashion & Global Boiling

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How can the fashion industry adapt to the extreme weather?


Temperatures are peaking, hitting a record around the globe, and as we have entered the global boiling era, the fashion industry needs to rethink its business models.

“Climate change is here, it is terrifying, and it is just the beginning. The era of global warming has ended and the era of global boiling has arrived.” – said the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

Scientists confirmed that July has been one of the world’s hottest months. Of course, what is happening is consistent with the predictions, but the change seems to accelerate faster than expected.

Though Guterres calls for immediate action in order to turn the tide, we are not optimistic. Big corporations will not approach degrowth, which would be the only valuable possibility to reduce our impact on the planet.

For the fashion industry, global boiling means getting ready with a different plan, a leaner way to operate the business. In fact, this new normal makes it difficult to think in terms of foreseeable seasons, as the industry has done so far.

Therefore, fashion brands should rethink how they set up their Spring-Summer collections by presenting patterns, fabrics, and silhouettes designed for a new reality. Most importantly, they need to reconsider how they sell to retailers.

Retailers, on their hand, need to order from brands that allow them to purchase smaller quantities and give them the possibility to reorder. In fact, ordering six months earlier is not really smart since it is impossible to foresee the weather in the long run.

Global boiling: possible solutions for the fashion industry


Pre-order: retailers can show the products to their customers and then pass an order to the brand.
Made-to-order: products made within certain specifications, such as materials, colours, and dimensions, but in a limited range of options.
Customised product: clothes or accessories created for an individual customer, according to their needs and requirements.

Benefits:
All the above models would limit overproduction and fashion waste. Also, they would help improve inventory allocation.
Retailers would sell during the season, limiting frequent markdowns because of overstocking.
Products would keep a higher value throughout the year.

People would purchase fewer garments but better quality.

Something needs to change in the fashion system. The industry must be flexible and adapt to specific seasons and unforeseeable events.

Fashion must consider global boiling, or it will end up boiled.

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Extreme Weather: The New Normal

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Why people don’t care about climate change


It seems extreme weather bothers people in proportion to the intensity of heat, cold, or devastation they suffered. Beyond the dramatic headlines, these events often spark conversations and complaints, but all too frequently, the discussion ends there.

But now that information is everywhere, accessible more then ever, why do people choose not educate themselves? Why is there indifference and inaction?

Extreme weather in Europe


A massive storm and hail have devastated Milano. Also, in the Mediterranean, flames are devouring everything. That happens in Sicily, Greece, Croatia, Turkey and Gran Canaria. From droughts to wildfires, these days, Europe is burning. The climate emergency is tangible. Also, we know what has caused climate change, which drives extreme weather, as scientists made it clear decades ago. They said we had to change the way humans impacted the planet. But we kept on abusing nature in the name of money.

Furthermore, instead of listening to those who tried to open our eyes, instead of changing our lifestyle to avoid extinction, we changed the marketing! So now, every product or service is green. Brilliant! But guess what? The world is in flames.

Misleading messages on climate change


Recently, the Italian Prime Minister spoke at the Vox rally in Valencia. She said we need to “stop ultra-ecological fanaticism.” Also: “ecological sustainability must go hand in hand with economic sustainability.”
In other words, according to the Italian government, we need to stop those who take a step to protect nature but do not say a word about oil companies.

These messages on how to handle climate change are disturbing. Besides, this viewpoint goes hand in hand with the fake slogans of green capitalism and sustainability, which are expressions of greenwashing.

Please, stop it all. Stop talking! No more words on sustainability because they are unnerving.
We are fed up with hearing governments and brands talking about growth. We cannot stand hearing about sustainable fashion, organic food, sustainable tourism or net zero! There is no such thing as sustainable growth.

Climate change worsens, but we keep doing what we have done so far. More flights, more cars, more travel, more consumption. Like someone driving a car about to hit a wall but does not care!

Now more than ever, information is available to everyone. In fact, there is enough information about climate change to educate ourselves and hold ourselves accountable. Yet most people prefer to credit those who deny it. Either there is a lack of understanding, or we are kidding ourselves.

But one thing is clear: extreme weather is the new normal. And we cannot afford this inconsiderate behaviour anymore.

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Climate Change and Natural Disasters  

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Emilia Romagna: a region devastated by heavy rain and flooding


Climate change, between natural disasters and man-made activities, causes massive devastation.

In 36 hours, 50 centimetres of rain fell in Emilia Romagna. In other words, the rainfall the region usually sees throughout half a year. The heavy rains and consequent flooding have devastated a large part of the area. 14 rivers had broken their banks. Ten people died and more than 10,000 had to be evacuated. Some rescued from roofs by helicopters.

Over the winter season, the region faced months of drought. Now, during springtime, heavy rains and flooding. According to Mario Tozzi, a geologist and science communicator, drought and flooding are two faces of the same coin: climate change.

In the end, extreme weather events are the result of human actions on the planet. Without any ethical consideration, man acts like the master of nature instead like a part of it. Indeed money is the only concern. Still, humans want to dominate nature, disposing of it in endless exploitation.

“We have traded nature for the economy, but in the end, we all lost. A healthy economy is not possible without healthy ecosystems. Enough with the merchants of doubts: it’s time to act.”

Mario Tozzi

The merchants of doubts are climate change deniers. We shouldn’t even waste time listening to them. Since the 70s, scientists and economists knew what was about to happen. Capitalism is an economic model that brings destruction. Now this destruction is in front of us.

“Here, natural events become catastrophic due to a worsening factor: the concrete with which we have covered the entire territory. If you take away space from a river, sooner or later, it takes it back.” – declared Mario Tozzi.

Concrete monsters, mastodontic shopping malls, intensive farming and, on top of this, fossil fuels are all part of an exploitative system that failed. In fact, climate change and natural disasters are undeniable proof of human activity over nature.

“If we squander our fossil fuels, we threaten civilisation; but if we squander the capital represented by living nature around us, we threaten life itself.”
E.F. Schumacher


We must leave this pattern behind and take action now.

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