Learn About the Industries
It’s important to understand that each industry has an impact on the environment. This year in SOAR, we will be focusing on 9 industries and their influences on our earth and our way of life. Please click on each industry to learn more about them, their impact on the environment, their role in environmental justice, and how these industries can become more environmentally conscious. Plus, check out examples of organizations already creating a healthier environment through their responsible eco-actions. Let’s get started!
Environmental Justice
What is Environmental Justice?
“Environmental Justice aims to minimize the environmental impacts on all people, advocating for fairer environmental policies and lawmaking, and installing greater protections for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.” For a history of Environmental Justice, check out this article.
- For more info about Environmental Justice, read this.
- For a quick video on Environmental Justice, click here.
How is America Recognizing Environmental Justice?
The Federal Government created the Office of Environmental Justice to combat these injustices. With $3 billion in grants, the new Environmental Justice office will aim to give grants to environmentally unjust communities.
SOAR Industries
The industries we are focusing on this year in SOAR include:
- Fashion Industry
- Film Industry
- Aerospace Industry
- Agricultural Industry
- Finance Industry
- Retail Industry
- Technology Industry
- Civic Industry
- Non-profit Industry
These large industries play a major role on the impacts of the environment. For example, it is estimated that the fashion industry uses over 20 trillion gallons of water to manufacture garments each year which causes about 20% of global industrial water pollution. Additionally, the fashion industry accounts for 10% of world carbon emissions annually. The same industry is also accountable for burning one garbage truckload worth of trash every second or sending it to the landfill. The finance industry fuels the fossil fuel industry, which is responsible for 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021, banks gave $742 billion to fossil fuel financing. In the film industry, some large-budget movies produce over 2 tons of CO2 per production. The automotive industry produces a copious amount of air pollution and greenhouse gasses, and airplanes are a huge contributor to climate change because they release CO2 and nitrogen oxide which has a strong warming effect on our atmosphere. In the agriculture industry, air emissions from livestock cause 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, the production of food creates mass soil erosion and waste issues. These are just a fraction of the environmental impacts of these industries. For more info, keep reading.
These environmental concerns have not gone unnoticed. Tighter government regulations are forcing these industries to become more eco-conscious. Industries are realizing that in the long term, these environmental policies are more cost-efficient. There are other benefits of becoming more sustainable such as increased productivity, improved image, and employee retainment, to name a few. Many industries are already doing a phenomenal job altering their daily routines to become more environmentally mindful. Other industries are struggling and may need some assistance. In SOAR, you will first come to understand the environmental issues each industry faces in order to make an informed recommendation on how to create positive environmental change within that industry.
Please click on each industry below to learn more:
Next Step: Let’s move to Path 2
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