Love Letter #46

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Hello! This week, we have not one, but two exciting announcements to share! We feature Sverker's amazing achievement, welcome our latest addition to the team from Canada, and share two pieces on renewable energy transition and the energy-intensive fast-fashion industry. Enjoy! 01 Why is it difficult to implement climate policy instruments? Recently, our partner (and friend!) Sverker Jagers had his article published in Nature Climate Change. This achievement is significant for climate change researchers, practitioners and policymakers as it will help them better design climate policy instruments. To highlight his amazing achievement, we interviewed Sverker to find out more about his process and insights. In our interview with Sverker, we asked him what the most enjoyable and surprising aspects of his research were. We also found out more about why public opinion matters for climate policy acceptance and how politicians should respond to these findings. Of course, we also discuss his motivations for his research and how he hopes decision makers will utilise his research to implement better policies. Read the full interview here. 02 Introducing Brianne We're excited to announce a new addition to our team, Brianne!  Previously, she conducted ESG research for a small investment advisory in Stockholm and previously supported sustainable urban developments in Toronto and educational activities at an urban farm in Vancouver. As a Business Designer, she looks forward to exploring solutions for clients to support them in their net-zero transition, while embracing ambiguity to reiterate effectively alongside clients. Personally, tackling the threat of climate change brings important meaning to her work and personal life. As a Canadian, she finds joy in the winter through downhill skiing. She enjoys being in the mountains amongst panoramic views or in the centre of cities pondering urbanism concepts. In her apartment, she loves trying the newest fitness craze and testing seasonal recipes! Say hello to Brianne here! 03 Curated by Another Tomorrow Photo source > The high costs of using gas as a 'transition' fuel Traditionally, natural gas has been recognised as a 'transition' fuel for economies shifting from coal to renewable energy. With lower carbon dioxide emissions than coal and gas-fired power stations requiring only a few years to build, it has been seen as the prime 'transition' fuel.  However, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prices of gas have risen while renewable energy prices have plunged. According to a report by Transition Zero, the cost of switching from coal to renewable energy has plunged by 99% since 2010. This trend is only expected to quicken, and some experts urge governments to shift to renewables instead of using coal to protect electricity consumers from continued fossil fuel volatility. As the price of fossil fuels continues to soar, many countries are considering to revert to using coal. However, the construction of coal-fired power stations might mean that the world has a slim chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.  Read the full article here. Photo source > Behind Shein's reinvention of fast fashion   Many of us have heard of Shein, one of the world's largest fashion brands currently. In June 2020, Shein made up 28% of fast fashion sales in the US - nearly equal to the amount of sales by H&M and Zara combined. But why is the brand so wildly successful?  This Guardian article highlights Shein's aggressive business model that makes use of a large-scale automated test and re-order (LATR) model. For each new item, a small batch is manufactured at the start. A proprietary internal management software then collects almost-instant feedback on which items to increase inventory of. With this model, Shein manufactures and tests thousands of items simultaneously - from July to December 2021, they added 2,000 to 10,000 new styles to their app every day (20 times more than Zara and H&M). Undoubtedly, Shein's ultra-fast-fashion has caused significant controversy. Besides the harsh conditions for workers who have to work long hours in poorly regulated workshops, it has also sparked environmental concerns. According to investment experts, this cycle of energy-intensive fast-fashion will simply continue to grow in volume and speed as consumers buy into micro-trends and throw out their clothes just as quickly. As the race to produce the cheapest product continues and the variety of products increases, one can't help but wonder - where does this all end? Find out how Shein beat Amazon at its own game here. Stay safe and stay curious! / Linnéa & Team Another Tomorrow Seeing this for the first time? Sign up to the love letter here.