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COP28: Hypocrisy & Climate Change

If hypocrisy always accompanies the climate summit, this COP28 sounds like a joke.

Many traditional Italian jokes start like this: there is an Italian, a French and a German. Now add that they meet up in Dubai to talk about climate change. Okay, for real, COP28, the annual climate summit, is now held in Dubai. Whether you are Italian or not, you’ll laugh because it sounds like a joke!

By the way, we can expand this joke, including other countries. There are three British men who flew on three private jets to Dubai to attend a meeting led by an oil and gas CEO to talk about not using oil. And, of course, not killing the planet to satisfy their lifestyle!
In fact, according to The Independent, Sunak, Cameron and King Charles each take on private jets to travel to COP28. Three private jets to talk about cutting emissions! Surely, the right thing to do!

We could continue with the other countries in the world; the pattern doesn’t change. So, the joke gets shared.

The joke: a petro-state for climate change

Not only is COP “whatever the number,” the conference where world leaders gather to discuss climate change for about five days and then go back home with nothing done. Specifically, they postpone the change for the next 15 or 20 years, which is pure madness. It reveals a total lack of understanding of the climate emergency and a willingness to make change.
But, this year, it is even more absurd: they join in Dubai. Precisely, world leaders gather in a country whose only power relies on oil to talk about climate change. Conflict of interest? It doesn’t concern them! Private jets, helicopters, shopping in giant shopping malls – an energy-absorbing country whose energy and water consumption per capita is the highest in the world.

What are they talking about? Where are we heading?

To conclude, we share Mario Tozzi‘s words:

“There is little use in gathering at conferences like COP28, where it is more important not to step on the toes of a destructive economy than to worry about the health of the Earth. They can spare us the mockery.”

Enough with the climate joke! We cannot listen to politicians and billionaires who travel on private jets telling us how to consume! This hypocrisy is disturbing. We are fed up with it. Aren’t you?

Sustainable music events: a new trend

26 August, 2022

Here’s what to know and how it ties in with fashion

Sustainable music events are trending everywhere. And it seems this has been a sustainable summer from every viewpoint: fashion, food and music.

Music events & fashion

The relationship between fashion and music is deep and intricate. Indeed, both fields represent the same culture, expressing contemporary values with different means. But, they tend to intersect more, as they need each other to promote themselves.

Now, not only do fashion events wave the sustainability flag, even music events are marketed as sustainable. Therefore, you can attend a concert, on a beach or in a park, believing you will save the planet!

Greenwashing took over communication.
And, it looks like the saying: “don’t make a promise you can’t keep” doesn’t apply to marketing.
By attending those music festivals or purchasing eco-friendly clothing, people think they are doing something good for the planet, but, on the contrary, nothing changes. Or worse, they damage it.

In some cases, it’s a matter of common sense. For instance, you don’t need a degree to understand that large crowds threaten nature. And reusable cups or collecting garbage during the event will not pay back the damage.

Sustainability or greenwashing?

Mario Tozzi, an influential voice when it comes to environmental matters, highlighted the point that many seem to miss completely:

“50 thousand people attending a concert aren’t sustainable by any natural environment, even more from our already compromised beaches.”
Mario Tozzi

Also, he reported a study from the C.N.R. (National Council of Research) on the National Park “La Maddalena” (Sardinia): every bather takes away from 50 to 100 grams of sand per day.

Music events or fashion: what separates sustainability and greenwashing

The point is made clear: numbers and quantities make the difference. A large number of people, likewise tons of quantities produced and consumed, aren’t sustainable, even if made with the best intentions.

And so, mass concerts in natural environments aren’t sustainable. That’s why it makes sense to use appropriate locations. Likewise, mass productions aren’t sustainable – whether fast fashion or luxury mass productions. Mass travels and flights aren’t sustainable, and so on.

That is the dividing line between sustainability and greenwashing. Anyone who wants to address sustainability matters seriously must start from that point. The rest is nonsense. Human beings are so many that it’s impossible to erase their impact on the planet.

But, whether misguided or due to a lack of understanding, the confusion that marketing creates is larger than the crowds attending music events!

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The Climate Joke