Threading Change is honoured to be attending the UNFCCC Climate Change negotiations, COP27 this year in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. With this being a climate justice COP, we will focus our efforts on equity, justice, and decarbonization.

As a youth-led organization working diligently to hold some of the biggest names in fashion accountable, we will spend the conference campaigning, presenting, and ideating alongside various stakeholders on the future of fashion. Check out our speaking engagements below, we hope to see you there!

YOUTH CHANGING FASHION

YOUTH CHANGING FASHION

Thank you to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Globe Series, and Climate Vulnerable Forum Youth Capacity Building Fellowship for providing funding for our delegation to attend COP27.

Meet the Threading Change COP27 Delegation

  • Sophia Yang | Canada

    Founder & Executive Director

    Sophia (she/her) is the Founder & Executive Director of Threading Change, a youth-led ethical fashion organization working at the intersections of climate, gender, and racial justice in alignment with the necessary transition to a circular economy. As a dedicated climate justice change maker, Sophia has worked for over a dozen environmental organizations ranging from federal government agencies (Parks Canada, Natural Resources Canada), NGOs (Canopy Planet, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Prince’s Trust Canada), industry (CNRL), and academia (UBC, SFU). Sophia is the recipient of the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City Leadership Award in 2022, Corporate Knights’ Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders in 2021, Starfish Canada’s Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalists award in 2017 and 2018, has attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 24 & 25) twice as a British Columbian Youth Delegate, and DJs as ‘KALEIDO’ in her spare time.

  • Barbra Kangwana | Kenya

    Africa Research Lead

    Barbra (she/her) is an environmental and climate activist. She has been actively involved in environmental conservation, climate justice, and fossil-free campaigns to advocate for better policies and sustainable practices. She is the Research Lead for the Africa Regional Coordination team at Threading Change. She is a community trainer and climate educator. She expresses her passion for addressing the climate crisis through training youth groups, initiatives, and organizations on climate change, its spill-over issues, and ways in which they can be more resilient and adaptable in the climate crisis. Barbra is also the founder of the Last Shade Initiative, which focuses on creating awareness of environmental conservation and climate change and increasing resilience in the local communities through behavior modification.

  • Puninda Thind | Canada

    Board Member

    Puninda (she/her) is a climate justice advocate and consultant specializing in sustainability strategy development and implementation. Previously, she worked in sustainable investing in the commercial real estate sector, where she led portfolio-wide initiatives focused on climate resilience and sustainability reporting. Puninda holds a Bachelor of Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo. She is active in her local community as a member of the Global Shapers Community and as an organizer with Climate Justice Peel. Puninda has been recognized as one of Canada’s top 30 under 30 sustainability leaders and as a Clean50 honouree.

Green Zone talk: Threading Change through storytelling and innovation for a sustainable and equitable fashion future.

Join us at the Peace Park Main stage on Decarbonization day at COP27 as we explore how Threading Change’s Global Innovation Story Map (GISM) has been working hard to cultivate a culture of transparency, vulnerability, and authenticity in the industry— particularly for SMEs.

Circularity for Climate: Leveraging Circular Economy to Accelerate the Net-Zero Transition

Recent studies suggest the circular economy can help mitigate the 45% of global GHG emissions linked to how we make and use products, and how we produce food and manage land (Ellen MacArthur Foundation).  The circular economy seeks to shift from the current linear (take-make-dispose) model of economic growth to a model based on three principles: i) design out waste and pollution, ii) keep products and materials in use, and iii) regenerate natural systems.  

This session will explore how circular economy approaches can support climate change mitigation efforts. It will explore pathways to decarbonization through increased circularity, with case studies from key sectors. Experts from government, non-governmental organizations, and academia will discuss current efforts and best practices, and identify opportunities for further action on the circular economy to support climate ambition.  

TEDx Talk at the COP27 Children & Youth Pavilion

What does the future of work look like in a circular economy? And how are young people leading in this movement to generate tangible change and returns on investment? Join Threading Change as we do a deep dive into this topic at COP27.

COP27 & Climate Action Interview

Barbra Kangwana, Threading Change’s Africa Research Lead joins SirKenneth Omondi to discuss climate action and ambition at COP27.

Radio Interview: Youth in Fashion and Climate Action at COP27

Join our Founder Sophia as she discusses on the CBC Early Edition Radio show with Stephen Quinn regarding the importance of youth inclusion at global climate negotiations, particularly for holding big industry giants accountable in fashion.