The stark warning, published by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), told the world in a chilling report that if the rate of global warming is not slowed down, the population will be faced with unfathomable and relentless natural disasters. Human-induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes across the globe, but scientists are also observing changes across the whole of Earth's climate system, in the atmosphere, in the oceans and ice floes, and on land. According to the IPCC Working Group I report “Climate Change 2021: the Physical Science Basis,” while benefits for air quality would come quickly, it could take 20-30 years to see global temperatures stabilize.
“This report is a reality check," said IPCC Working Group I Co-Chair Valérie Masson-Delmotte. "We now have a much clearer picture of the past, present and future climate, which is essential for understanding where we are headed, what can be done, and how we can prepare.”
The report also shows that human actions still have the potential to determine the future course of climate. With that in mind, we need to get moving as individuals, as brands, and as an industry. Melanie Bender, Founding President of Versed Skincare, the largest beauty brand to be Climate Neutral certified, and leader of CodeRed4Climate, calls us all into action, driving a beauty industry initiative advocating for key climate policy from lawmakers. In the 45 days since the release of the latest UN IPCC report, she has mobilized over 100 beauty and wellness brands to use their influence to mobilize communities towards advocating for key climate policy from lawmakers through CodeRed4Climate.
The collective of brands, whose online footprints exceed 40 million followers hit pause on their social media platforms on Tuesday, September 21, to advocate for solutions to the growing climate crisis. The marketing blackout call to action directs consumers to join brands in calling their representatives to urge for new climate policy in key areas.
CodeRed4Climate is aimed at closing the gap between climate attitude and action. Polling shows that most Democrats and Republicans are concerned about global warming and think the government should be doing more to reduce its impact, yet Congress has only passed one major energy bill in the last 14 years.
“It's not enough to care. Humankind must act—and to avoid disastrous consequences for generations to come, we must act together," states Bender. "Beauty is an industry of trend makers. We want to use that influence to kickstart a movement of climate responsibility and action—before it's too late.”
CodeRed4Climate participants range from small and medium-sized independent brands to publicly listed companies and represent all sectors of the $500 billion beauty industry. The initiative was developed in partnership with Versed, Youth To The People, and Call4Climate, a project of nonprofit media lab Fossil Free Media that creates an easy way for everyone in the country to call their representatives in support of climate action.
The CodeRed4Climate platform urges lawmakers to support climate policy in four key areas:
While lawmaker action is an absolutely critical part of the climate solution, it’s important to recognize that climate change is inherently apolitical. The devastating impacts of warming respect neither borders nor party affiliations," Bender says. "As brands, by getting behind climate action we're getting behind public health, human rights, conservation, science and life. This is a movement built on common ground, so our future generations have the right to live a life that looks remotely like our own.
Rather than being a one-time campaign, CodeRed4Climate will roll into Planet A, a movement of continued collaboration and action among the brands offering a blueprint for climate action within other industries.
"If you've been waiting for a sign to get involved, this is it," says Bender.
Make beauty matter and join the climate initiative to urge our lawmakers to pass critical climate policy now.
