Some big names have pledged to work with the United Nations (UN) to combat climate change. H&M, Zara, Levi’s and Gap are among some of the companies to sign the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, which provides goals for lessening the impact of the fashion industry on the world’s climate by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (Motherboard)

Talking point: It’s the first time that the UN has initiated an industry-specific charter, and shows the agency’s shift in approaching its fight against climate change, now bypassing local governments and going straight to industry. A full picture of the state of the world’s climate becomes clearer every day, with new studies such as one from the Asia Global Institute looking at the impacts of air pollution on human cognition. Some regions are taking different measures to encourage industry’s cooperation, such as Whistler, B.C., who wants Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., the Calgary-based oil and gas company, to pay for the financial impact of climate change on the town.