CLIMATE ACTION WEEK: Status Update: Will the New York and California Fashion Act bills pass?

During STICA’s 2024 Climate Action Week, Maxine Bédat and her colleagues from the NRDC and the New York State Assembly updated us on the arguments for and status of the New York Fashion Act. Since then more has happened. Similar bills have been introduced in California and Massachusetts. In this conversation, Michael asks Maxine to provide an update on the status of the bills, including how they address climate action specifically, if and how the bills align or differ, why she thinks they will be effective, and why there are no major industry organizations and only a few global brands officially supporting these bills.     

“This is not counter to industry. This is a pro-industry bill. It sets the basic guardrails so the industry can thrive in the future.”

“What doesn’t make sense to me is that the industry created these standards—and now they’re opposing them when asked to follow through.”

“If you're not in favor of this bill and not actively promoting it, that is the position of the industry today. That’s a shocking and sad state of affairs.”

For more information about this podcast and our guest expert, or to listen to other Climate Action Week 2025 podcast conversations, please visit: https://sustainablefashionacademy.org/stica/climate-action-week-2025/