Latest Stories from Sofia
Pledges to loss and damage fund fall short at COP28
The wealthy countries most responsible for the climate crisis have so far contributed a combined total of just over $700m. This is nowhere near enough to help the world’s most vulnerable nations cope with the damage caused by slow onset disasters and extreme weather events. Day one of COP28 saw the first big breakthrough: an agreement on a ‘loss and damage’ fund to compensate poor states for...
Sophia Kianni launches ‘we wear oil’ campaign
Sophia Kianni is calling out fashion’s dependency on oil by educating others on production and manufacturing processes. Clothes are currently made from fossil fuel-derived synthetic fibres at an ‘absolutely horrific rate.’ With COP28 in full swing, phasing out fossil fuels to tackle skyrocketing greenhouse gas emissions is once again receiving mainstream attention. Transitioning away from coal, oil, and gas doesn’t appear to be happening any time soon, however. Rather than using the...
Is ‘bed rotting’ self-care or self-deprecation?
The latest wellness trend on TikTok caters to burnt-out Gen Zers, encouraging them to escape the demands of daily life by spending extended periods of time under the covers and emerging only when they feel properly rested. At first glance, there’s likely a lot of good that can come from this, but critics are concerned about the potential consequences of young people staying sedentary. 2022 was the year we embraced...
Our playbook guide to deceptive fossil fuel practices: part one
When it comes to the insidious techniques that the industry is using to greenwash its image, undermine climate negotiations, and delay progress, there are many. Here, we break down astroturfing and corporate personhood, highlighting how they relate to this year’s COP28 summit. ‘What’s the point of our climate summits if they’re being undermined by a shadow network of fossil fuel lobbying?’ This question, asked by a campaigner to...
Microdosing psychedelics could help those with ADHD
A new study shows that consuming tiny amounts of LSD or magic mushrooms can improve mindfulness in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Following decades of demonisation and criminalisation, psychedelic drugs are being proved to have profound implications for a field that’s seen few pharmacological advancements since the 60s. I’m talking, of course, about the treatment of intractable conditions such as depression, PTSD, and addiction, which time and time again...
Exclusive – Chelsea Miller talks sustainable-movement building
A leading voice in racial justice and digital organising, Chelsea Miller is the co-founder of Freedom March NYC, one of the largest youth-led civil rights groups in America. We spoke to her about how considering long-term impact should always take precedence over promoting band-aid solutions. ‘People can’t be what they don’t see,’ says Chelsea Miller, who is amongst Gen Z’s most prominent social change leaders. Embodying this...
Climate change is affecting human brain function
Though we’ve known for a while that environmental factors can alter the way our brains function, researchers have only just begun to examine the links between climate change and neuroscience. Since the 1940s, scientists have known from conducting studies on mice that changing environmental factors can profoundly impact the development and plasticity of the brain. More recently, due to the exacerbation of the climate crisis and the threat to our...
Richest 1% emit as much pollution as two-thirds of humanity
According to a recent report on climate inequality conducted by Oxfam, the planet-heating carbon emissions generated by the world’s wealthiest surged to 5.9 billion tonnes in 2019 – enough to cause 1.3 million excess deaths due to extreme heat. The richest 1% of humanity are responsible for around the same percentage of global carbon emissions as the 5 billion people who represent the 66% poorest, with dire consequences for...
The major environmental impact of faux leather
As the popularity of ethical fashion grows and consumers continue to seek out vegan clothing alternatives, it’s time we asked ourselves if these products are truly as sustainable as they seem. It’s common knowledge that fast-fashion has long-dominated the style landscape, for the affordable and straightforward way in which it enables consumers to keep up with continually fluctuating trends. However, unlike the rapid nature of these fads – which come and...
Muscle dysmorphia is fuelling a silent male mental health crisis
As social media and the lucrative, unregulated supplements industry continues to promote unrealistic beauty standards, more boys and young men today are becoming obsessed with body image and bulking up to the point of risking their overall wellbeing. For as long as I’m able to remember, women have been the primary target of societal body critique. Permeating almost every aspect of my day-to-day life, I’ve frequently faced immense pressure from my...