‘PUMA x Balmain – created with Cara Delevingne’ LA Launch Event held at Milk Studios Featuring: Cara Delevingne Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 21 Nov 2019 Credit: Faye’s Vision/Cover Images
The model wrote an exclusive letter for Vogue to mark Earth Day.
Cara Delevingne is launching an initiative to help one million people repair their local ecosystems.
In an exclusive letter for Vogue to mark Earth Day on Thursday, the model and environmental activist revealed the new grassroots charity, Initiative Earth, will launch later this year to tackle climate challenges.
“What if people had access to free, high-quality education in ecosystem restoration, so that they can begin to actively participate in repairing degraded environments?” she wrote. “What if rather than waiting on governments, communities took matters into their own hands? What if we all recognised that the health of the planet and the health of people are two sides of the same coin? What if we understood that oppression of people and the degradation of the planet are innately connected?
“These questions have led to the creation of a new charity, Initiative Earth, which we are launching later this year. This charity exists to build and support the global movement that is already regenerating Earth and revitalising communities. Why? Because there has never been a more urgent need to restore damaged ecosystems than now.”
In January 2019, Cara and her friend Christabel Reed launched #MyEcoResolution to remind people how small changes can make a huge difference. The 28-year-old star hopes this new initiative will also inspire people to make a positive impact on the planet before it’s too late.
“If you close your eyes and think about the future, what do you feel? If you imagine the planet and all the life that we cohabit with 20 years from now, what do you see?” she continued. “I don’t know about you, but I feel pretty scared and overwhelmed as I sit here with a tight knot in my stomach.
“It’s important for us to remember that all the solutions we need to address the climate and ecological crisis already exist. Future generations will look back at this moment and marvel at how we knew so much, in such excruciating detail, but were unable to take significant action to address the root causes.”
Cara added the Earth is battling drought, famine, cyclones, floods and destruction, and people have forgotten to “coexist in harmony” with nature.
“We hope to support one million people in getting their hands into the earth, regenerating local ecosystems and building community resilience,” she shared.
Cara also reflected upon her career as a model, admitting the fashion industry is responsible for “obscene” amounts of environmental damage, but said she was determined to learn from past mistakes and make informed decisions in the future.
Cara recently partnered with Puma to create a new eco-conscious yoga collection called Exhale.
—Reuters
