Sad but necessary news for all the guys out there who need an anorak and hiking boots to brave the Central Line: outdoor-wear gurus Patagonia are closing their stores for a day later this week, on September 20 in the UK and Ireland.
The initiative is to support the global climate strikes taking place later this month. As the strike organisers put it: “Our house is on fire — let’s act like it.” They’re encouraging millions of us to walk out of our workplaces, schools, or lecture theatres this Friday to join young strikers on the streets.
In a statement, Patagonia’s EMEA manager Ryan Gellert spoke about why it was important for the company to support the strikes:
“The climate crisis is a human issue – affecting all of us. We are inspired by the youth activists who have led a global movement, and Patagonia is calling for urgent and decisive action for people and our home planet. As a global business, we will be closing our stores on 20th and 27th September [the focus date for few countries including Italy and The Netherlands], striking with the youth activists and calling for governments around the world to take action. We invite the business community and all those concerned about the fate of our planet and humankind to answer with action and join us”.
Patagonia are setting an example for a socially-conscious workplace. Here’s hoping other companies follow their lead.
For more information on this month’s global climate strike, click here.