UNGA Delegates Seek Shared Solutions to Address the Climate Crisis

As wars and the rules of artificial intelligence command much of the spotlight at the United Nations General Assembly, another urgent conversation is unfolding across New York: the climate crisis and how to confront it.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been convening high-level meetings focused on climate action.

He has urged governments worldwide to produce concrete plans to move away from fossil fuels “with clear timelines and protection for affected workers and communities”.

Not far from UN headquarters, climate campaigners tried a different approach to the same message, staging a fashion show on the steps of the New York Public Library to push people away from fast fashion.

The UN says the fashion industry ranks among the world’s biggest polluters and accounts for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Models walked in outfits assembled from recycled materials, with many garments bearing stitched-on messages and direct calls to action.

“Because of all the resources – water and human resources – put behind it, fast fashion has a huge impact on the climate crisis and not a lot of people are aware of that,” Pablo Amry told RTÉ News.

Mr Amry, who is from Mexico City, works with the grassroots organisation Sustaining All Life, which supports climate activists in coping with emotional stress.

Alongside UNGA, the city is also hosting New York Climate Week.

Ireland’s new youth climate delegate Adam Ó Ceallaigh travelled to New York to take part in the events.

“Hope is essential when it comes to climate action and I have hope every time I speak to somebody else who is working on the topic,” he said.

Watch the video to hear more.