Sustainability has been an unwavering point of discussion in the industry, from biodegradable packaging to ethical supply chain transparency. The Sustainable Beauty Coalition, the UK’s plastic packaging tax, YSL’s Rewild Our Earth initiative, and waste-conscious salons are a few examples that are occurring across the industry, from product creation to services. But there is still more work to be done, and fast.
A new multiagency report by the World Meteorological Organization, titled United in Science, shows that a mere 15% of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are on track. The goals include responsible consumption and production, sustainable city development, and clean water and energy.
The report dives into the impact of climate change in the development of these ambitions including how it's impacting clean energy, food, and water security. The likelihood of the annual mean near-surface temperature worldwide exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius for one out of the upcoming five years is 66%. This increase will result in even more extreme weather conditions; there is already a 98% chance that one of the next five years will be the hottest on record. The consequences go beyond a mere heat wave.
Between 1970 and 2021, 12,000 climate disasters have resulted in more than $4.3 trillion in economic losses and 2 million deaths. Ninety percent of the deaths and 60% of the losses were in developing economies. Extreme weather conditions are also projected to increase ill health and premature deaths, as does the air pollution in cities, which is associated with almost 7 million premature deaths per year. Due to the water-related hazards brought on by climate change such as floods and droughts, over 60% of countries have inadequate hydrological monitoring capabilities.
Furthermore, rather than fossil fuel CO2 emissions being reduced, which would benefit the fight against climate change, the emissions increased by 1% globally in 2022—primarily driven by the use of oil in the rebounding aviation sector and a further 0.3% in estimates from January to June 2023. Current mitigation policies will lead to a temperature increase of 2.8 degrees Celsius—a clear indication that immediate change is needed. Action needs to be taken across all industries and touchpoints, not just the beauty industry.
The report proposes tools such as AI, nowcasting, and high-resolution climate modeling to help advance these sustainability goals. To limit global warming, global greenhouse gas emissions are required to be reduced by 30% to 45% by 2030, while CO2 emissions are required to reach net zero by 2050—results which can only be achieved through systemic, large-scale transformations.
"The science continues to show that we are not doing enough to lower emissions and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement—as the world prepares for the first global stocktake at COP28, we must increase our ambition and action, and we must all do the real work to transform our economies through a just transition to a sustainable future for people and planet," comments Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.
What can the beauty industry take away from these findings? There needs to be widespread action rooted in the facts of sustainability and not blue- or greenwashing, happening now. Whether it’s consumers, entrepreneurs, or heads of conglomerates, we all carry responsibility, although the results certainly weigh heavier the larger the corporation. Whether it’s packaging, recycling, or conscious consumption, the solutions are multifaceted, and while technology implementation may take time, there are still plenty of steps that can be taken today.
