Everything you need to know about COP31 On the table: fashion as the second most polluting industry on the planet
COP31 has just begun — the conference bringing together the countries party to the United Nations convention on climate change. The event is being held in Turkey from November 9 to 20, two intense weeks during which the main topic will be global warming and its environmental impact. The meeting aims to deliver long-promised measures such as: the development of clean energy, the electrification of transport, and plans that can actively lead to the abandonment of fossil fuels, with the goal of limiting consumption and waste.
COP31 is directly connected to the fashion industry, given that fashion is one of the most polluting sectors in the world. The conference therefore represents the decisive moment for financing the survival and decarbonisation of the entire global textile supply chain, through a strategy built around four key pillars.
What actions will reduce fashion's consumption?
The first action introduces funding tied to climate finance. This is a fundamental form of support, given that external suppliers generate as much as 70% of fashion's environmental impact. According to data from McKinsey, these resources will enable small producers in developing countries to modernise machinery at the beginning of the supply chain.
This point is linked to the second action, which mandates the elimination of coal-fired boilers in textile factories, replacing them with renewable energy systems by 2035. This is a crucial measure for decarbonisation, given that fabric processing and dyeing — stages heavily dependent on fossil-fuel heat — alone account for 51% of total emissions across the entire clothing sector. This set of measures will directly affect the supply chains of global fashion giants and fast fashion brands, also compelling luxury labels to contribute financially.
The third action on the agenda involves the "Zero Waste" project, which invests in recycling technologies to curb the overproduction of synthetic materials. According to the Textile Exchange report, polyester dominates the market with 54% of global production, while the Ellen MacArthur Foundation — one of the most important cultural and environmental foundations — certifies that less than 1% of clothing is recycled into new garments.
The latest ECMWF update has interestingly shifted its forecast El Niño peak (+4.1°C) one month later to January. This likely owes to relentless westerly wind forcing that continues to shift warm water eastward across the Pacific. El Niño's impacts will extend well into 2027. https://t.co/lvFLyFkCoT
— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) November 6, 2026
Finally, the fourth action uses adaptation funds to safeguard cotton crops, protecting the supply chain from weather-related disasters and preserving the livelihoods of millions of producers worldwide. The action responds directly to the alarm raised in the State of the Climate Update report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which highlights record temperatures and the devastating impact of phenomena such as El Niño, responsible for a dramatic increase in droughts and floods. A practical example is the crisis in Bangladesh — an emergency that is not only humanitarian but also economic and social, fuelled by violent workers' protests and mass strikes in the country's industrial districts.
Economics and politics at the heart of the global debate
How many more conferences will it take before we understand that the climate crisis cannot wait for the pace of international bureaucracy? At the heart of COP31 lies the need to turn financial promises and commitments into concrete actions capable of accelerating the protection of our planet. This is not the first conference dedicated to this issue, but by now mere debate is no longer enough: real, immediate action is needed. Some progress has been made, but it is still not sufficient to speak of genuine change.