Tori Tsui is making an indelible mark as a climate justice activist, speaker, award winning author, and climate consultant, changing the narrative around mental health and climate justice. Tori is not shy of speaking her mind, and throughout our conversation, she remained true to form. Tori spoke with true openness and confidence, challenging us to do the same. She extends a powerful invitation to unapologetically embrace our authentic selves and find the self assurance that comes from being truly who we are, without the need to justify it.
Her book It’s Not Just You, debuting in July 2023, explores the intersections between these two facets and features interviews from Greta Thunberg, Vanessa Nakate, Mikaela Loach, Dominique Palmer, Isaías Hernández and many more. In 2019 she sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to attend COP25 in Chile. Her journey was sponsored by Stella McCartney after featuring in McCartney’s 2019/20 Winter campaign and having been named an agent of change.
Tori is the co-founder of the space Bad Activist Collective, the Senior Advisor for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Climate Justice Lead for Earth Percent as well as a member and advisor of multiple youth climate justice organising groups including Unite For Climate Action, Climate Resilience Project and Hero Circle. Her book and advocacy featured in Billie Eilish's 'Overheated' documentary, and subsequently in Vogue after joining Eilish among others in the January 2023 digital cover. She has spoken on global stages such as the New York Times Climate Hub with Emma Watson and Malala Yousafzai and the Southbank Centre with Greta Thunberg, Mya-Rose Craig and Alice Aedy, as well as The Climate Reality Project, SXSW, Paris Fashion Week, The Conduit London, Soho House London, The Royal Academy for Art and many more.
Q1. How does sustainability influence your work and daily life?
I primarily work in the transition away from fossil fuels and also in the music and sustainability nexus. And so much of what I do is deeply influenced by the current standing of the world, where we are, where we need to go, working with like minded people who care deeply about the planet, and also the sorts of challenges and trials and tribulations that come from working in a space where sometimes you feel like you're fighting an uphill battle.
And in terms of my work, it does make it challenging. In my daily life, I meet people from all walks of life who have literally no understanding of the scale of the issue and that can be really terrifying and for a long time, it really made me feel quite hopeless. Because I felt like 'God, there is so much work that needs to be done, I feel like we're fighting an uphill battle, how do you get these people on board?' And actually, now I'm trying to reframe it as an opportunity, as an exciting opportunity - that there are people who aren’t equipped with knowledge, that aren't understanding what's happening but how can we help them to understand and once they do, how can we make them feel empowered to get involved?
So in the context of the transition away from fossil fuels, I do a lot of campaigning against oil fuelled in the UK, and there's so much misinformation around our energy security. For example, lots of people think we need this oil that is fuelled in the UK because it's going to help us with lowering our bills. And well, no, actually the majority of this oil and gas will be exported and sold on the international markets, not for British homes. And it’s these sorts of sentiments that make me realise that actually, being a communicator is such an important role, because you have to cut through the noise and you have to cut through the misinformation.
In terms of my daily life, I mean, I live, breathe and eat this stuff but importantly, I try to not let this sort of doomerism associated with the climate movement infiltrate into the joyful spaces that I create. I mentioned I love working in the music space. I work with Brian Eno, on his organisation EARTHPERCENT, who work in aid of taking money from the music industry and redistributing it to different climate causes. At the same time, they curate events and launch campaigns surrounding music. Music is a universal love and language, and what better way to unite people than through the creative arm of campaigning. And so it’s been really interesting for me as someone who does a lot of the shouty preachy stuff, to also be working in the creative space and realise how much that resonates with everyday people.
Q2. Have you experienced any pivotal moments that deepened your understanding or commitment to sustainability?
Yes, absolutely. I had this really crazy opportunity a few years ago to sail across the Atlantic Ocean for the climate and go to the UN Climate Conference, and my journey was actually sponsored by Stella McCartney, because she invited me to model in one of her campaigns in 2019. And it's so funny, because it was such a performative thing to have done, to sail across the Atlantic for the climate. And I did think it was symbolic, and I did think it was powerful in many ways, but I just kept thinking to myself the entire time, 'this isn't accessible. What is the message that we're sending? How can the everyday person look at this campaign and go, I want to be part of that moment, I see myself in that struggle or campaign?' And so I think when I had done that, I was actually quite critical of the project. And it made me really think about what is accessible to people? And for me, that's culture, whether it's music or arts or so on. So that was quite a pivotal moment for me.
Yes, absolutely. I had this really crazy opportunity a few years ago to sail across the Atlantic Ocean for the climate and go to the UN Climate Conference, and my journey was actually sponsored by Stella McCartney, because she invited me to model in one of her campaigns in 2019. And it's so funny, because it was such a performative thing to have done, to sail across the Atlantic for the climate. And I did think it was symbolic, and I did think it was powerful in many ways, but I just kept thinking to myself the entire time, 'this isn't accessible. What is the message that we're sending? How can the everyday person look at this campaign and go, I want to be part of that moment, I see myself in that struggle or campaign?' And so I think when I had done that, I was actually quite critical of the project. And it made me really think about what is accessible to people? And for me, that's culture, whether it's music or arts or so on. So that was quite a pivotal moment for me.
It was an incredible opportunity, it kind of launched my public persona in the space of activism, and it made me feel a real sense of responsibility to do right by my community and for the people that I was working for and with. Also, I didn't want people to think, 'oh, she sailed across the Atlantic and then she's just forgotten about what she actually stands for.' So it was that moment, I think, that changed a lot of things for me.
Q3. Have you encountered any unexpected benefits or opportunities from adopting sustainable practices?
I want to focus on one thing because, I think there's a lot of fears surrounding being outspoken. I've always been really unapologetic with speaking my mind, and it would often get me into trouble and yes, it definitely compromised work opportunities when I was working in the film industry. But now that I'm in my own space and I'm speaking my truth, it brings you closer to people who see eye to eye with you. And actually, it's opened many more doors for me as a result. I think what I would just say to anybody who has this deep urge to speak out about what they care about, is that actually being authentic and being outspoken, will bring you closer in alignment with the people, with the projects and the opportunities that are meant for you.
And so, I think doing this kind of work really just allowed me to be myself, compared to when I was in spaces that really didn't want me to speak about certain things. I'll give an example. So as I mentioned, I spent some time in the film industry and I was being groomed to be a television presenter in the wildlife filmmaking world. I spent some time with this woman who was a presenter coach. She'd worked with so many really incredible broadcasters, it was such an honour to work with her. And then the Daily Mail published an article about me and my activism, and she said to me, 'if you want to work for the BBC, this has to stop.'
I want to focus on one thing because, I think there's a lot of fears surrounding being outspoken. I've always been really unapologetic with speaking my mind, and it would often get me into trouble and yes, it definitely compromised work opportunities when I was working in the film industry. But now that I'm in my own space and I'm speaking my truth, it brings you closer to people who see eye to eye with you. And actually, it's opened many more doors for me as a result. I think what I would just say to anybody who has this deep urge to speak out about what they care about, is that actually being authentic and being outspoken, will bring you closer in alignment with the people, with the projects and the opportunities that are meant for you.
And so, I think doing this kind of work really just allowed me to be myself, compared to when I was in spaces that really didn't want me to speak about certain things. I'll give an example. So as I mentioned, I spent some time in the film industry and I was being groomed to be a television presenter in the wildlife filmmaking world. I spent some time with this woman who was a presenter coach. She'd worked with so many really incredible broadcasters, it was such an honour to work with her. And then the Daily Mail published an article about me and my activism, and she said to me, 'if you want to work for the BBC, this has to stop.'
'This activism, your affiliation. It's dangerous.'
And it was at that moment where I thought, 'no I'm not, fuck that.' Nothing to me is more important. I'm not here to give up on my voice just for some career, and the rest is history. I think it's just about really sticking to your guns and values. And it’s that mindset that’s taking me on a path that I guess I couldn’t have gone down if I stuck to that part of broadcasting. Just doing my own thing and getting to speak my truth, it's really liberating.
Q4. In your view, what's one simple and doable lifestyle change that could have a meaningful impact on sustainability?
Often we think about lifestyle changes in terms of consumption behaviors and particularly consumption of different products. But I also like to see our behavioral changes, in terms of our consumption of information or the ways in which we communicate.
So for me, one simple, doable lifestyle change would be to find like minded people who are working at an intersection that really interests you. I feel as though reaching out to like minded people is really important, but so is making sure that we are having these conversations in life spaces that are separate from the sustainability world. Aiming to create networks and ecosystems, because I really think we are so much more powerful when we work together, but importantly in typical life spaces, outside of the core sustainable network, to engender real change. To me, it’s very much necessary to consider, who do you surround yourself with? Who’s in your network? Who can you collaborate with? Who can you create change with?
And I often find that that feels more approachable and more accessible to people, than just simply overhauling consumption. Pushing people to change their overconsumption habits will feel natural, but people need to feel empowered to do that on their own accord.
Q5. How do you think circular economy principles - eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products, materials, and support ecosystem regeneration - could be adopted in your industry or in a particular hobby or interest.
If I talk about the fossil fuel industry for instance, which is quite a meaty topic, there’s so much in terms of the way that it operates, which needs a complete overhaul. When we're talking about eliminating waste and pollution, there is so much waste and pollution that comes from this industry, so much run off, so much degradation of natural habitats. They are, if anything, culpable for destroying ecosystems and communities, and really they have a duty to those they have impacted to apply restoration. The ideal goal of course would be to divest from these really toxic, polluting energy forms and instead adopt wind and solar, which, you know, are not perfect, but are the cheapest they've ever been in society.
In terms of the music industry, there's so much that needs to be addressed in terms of the nature of touring for instance, that’s one of the most carbon intensive things that you can do in the industry. Talking more about products, Billie Eilish worked on releasing some vinyls that were made more sustainably, and called out the fact that there were certain artists who were releasing SO many vinyls and creating such waste and saying, is it actually necessary? At Earth Percent, we do a bioplastics vinyl which is made out of recyclable materials and we use the funds from selling those to go back into supporting the work that we do. And, you think it's just one vinyl, it’s just one product but actually, if you think about how much is made daily by so many different artists, it adds up. So it's little things like that that can have a big impact.
In terms of the music industry, there's so much that needs to be addressed in terms of the nature of touring for instance, that’s one of the most carbon intensive things that you can do in the industry. Talking more about products, Billie Eilish worked on releasing some vinyls that were made more sustainably, and called out the fact that there were certain artists who were releasing SO many vinyls and creating such waste and saying, is it actually necessary? At Earth Percent, we do a bioplastics vinyl which is made out of recyclable materials and we use the funds from selling those to go back into supporting the work that we do. And, you think it's just one vinyl, it’s just one product but actually, if you think about how much is made daily by so many different artists, it adds up. So it's little things like that that can have a big impact.
Q6. Are there any books, documentaries, or podcasts around sustainability that you feel particularly inspired by and you'd like to recommend to others?
Yeah, so there was recently a Netflix documentary that came just after or during Black Friday, the shopping conspiracy - Buy Now. It's a documentary about the dark side of overconsumption, which I think is such a timely thing as Black Friday sales were the highest they've ever been and with TikTok and Instagram and all of these social platforms, which are just pushing people to Buy, Buy, Buy, with Sales, Sales, Sales. In the documentary, they did a study which showed that sale items during Black Friday weren't actually as cheap as people make them out to be. Really, they have these sales throughout the year. Despite shops saying 20% off, claiming it’s the cheapest it’s ever going to be, “buy now while stocks last”. Even some sustainable brands I was following were promoting 20% off on Black Friday only, and then it would be Cyber Monday, 35% off! So yeah, the Buy Now documentary on Netflix is really eye opening. It kind of made you feel quite gross.
Yeah, so there was recently a Netflix documentary that came just after or during Black Friday, the shopping conspiracy - Buy Now. It's a documentary about the dark side of overconsumption, which I think is such a timely thing as Black Friday sales were the highest they've ever been and with TikTok and Instagram and all of these social platforms, which are just pushing people to Buy, Buy, Buy, with Sales, Sales, Sales. In the documentary, they did a study which showed that sale items during Black Friday weren't actually as cheap as people make them out to be. Really, they have these sales throughout the year. Despite shops saying 20% off, claiming it’s the cheapest it’s ever going to be, “buy now while stocks last”. Even some sustainable brands I was following were promoting 20% off on Black Friday only, and then it would be Cyber Monday, 35% off! So yeah, the Buy Now documentary on Netflix is really eye opening. It kind of made you feel quite gross.
One of my favorite books is by a good friend of mine called Mikaela Loach. And it's called, It's Not that Radical. It's a really good beginner-friendly guide to understanding climate justice. And it's really interesting because we both worked on our books at the same time, and hers came out just before and it was the perfect primer for people to read before reading mine, because it gave people all of those introductory concepts. And then I think mine was more specific, looking more at wellness and health and mental health in terms of climate. So yes, hers is one of my favourite books and it’s fantastic.
And in terms of podcasts, I really like Amy Westobelt's work. She does Drilled, which is all about the fossil fuel industry. It's kind of an expose, like if true crime met fossil fuels. It's really fascinating. People tend to find that stuff really boring, but she makes it really interesting because you feel like you're undercover, you’re part of this expose of one of the most toxic polluting industries in the world.
Q7. Is there a circular designer or brand you particularly admire? And why? This doesn't have to be in fashion.
I came across the work of Patrick McDowell a few years ago. He creates some really stunning couture gowns, and has always championed sustainability, and done a lot of up cycling, which is really cool. I met Christopher Raeburn a few years ago, he makes dresses and garments out of things like disused textile maps and parachutes. Also Elvis and Kresse, who make incredible bags from disused and decommissioned fire hoses. And I tell you what, every time I use one of their bags, I've got this barrel bag that I travel with all the time, everyone always compliments me on it. And it's this really bright fire truck red. I've worked with Stella McCartney quite a lot, and I really admire how she's been outspoken from the get go before it was even considered fashionable or trendy, and she's really pioneered a lot of textile and materials innovations in her collections. Another designer who I really love is Gabriella Hearst, who used to be the creative director of Chloé and also has her own brand. She's so dead serious about preserving and regenerating crops and artisan cultures that need to be appreciated. Even just from a sort of moral standpoint, she's always been so supportive of my work and the work of other activists, and has just been a champion of what we do. I think that also feeds into the regenerative sustainability cultures, actually uplifting people who do this work everyday.
Q8. What is the most timeless piece in your wardrobe, where did you find it and how long have you had it for?
Can I also do jewellery? So I'm going for a piece of jewellery that my grandmother gave me. She used to deal in antique jewellery and gave me this Venetian teardrop mosaic necklace. It's honestly the most gorgeous piece of jewellery I've ever owned and it's made out of broken porcelain. The Venetians would smash up different pieces of porcelain and then shape them into little mosaics so it's got quite ornate designs and it's about 200 years old. It's my most cherished piece of jewellery and it's stunning. It's kind of like a choker, but with these little tear drops down. It's something that my grandmother gave me so it has a story in itself and is from part of my heritage that I really care about.
In terms of my wardrobe. Oh, this is hard. It's really hard. To be honest, it's probably going to be an item of clothing that my mother's given me. My mum likes her fashion and she's given me some really nice wool coats over the years. I can't pick one, but you whip it out once a year, it's as good as new, it stands the test of time and actually it's really informed the way that I shop. I try and buy second-hand where I can, and buy sustainable clothing. Part of the reason for that is because if I go into a vintage store or if I look online at something that's been really well worn and it's still in really good condition, then I know it's going to continue lasting me for a while. Whereas I've bought new items of clothing and after three or four wears, it just looks tatted, it starts to fall apart. It's not good quality. A good vintage wool coat or leather jacket, which has been around for 50 years and it's still in good nick? This is going to be something that won't age badly and I can wear for the rest of my life.
In terms of my wardrobe. Oh, this is hard. It's really hard. To be honest, it's probably going to be an item of clothing that my mother's given me. My mum likes her fashion and she's given me some really nice wool coats over the years. I can't pick one, but you whip it out once a year, it's as good as new, it stands the test of time and actually it's really informed the way that I shop. I try and buy second-hand where I can, and buy sustainable clothing. Part of the reason for that is because if I go into a vintage store or if I look online at something that's been really well worn and it's still in really good condition, then I know it's going to continue lasting me for a while. Whereas I've bought new items of clothing and after three or four wears, it just looks tatted, it starts to fall apart. It's not good quality. A good vintage wool coat or leather jacket, which has been around for 50 years and it's still in good nick? This is going to be something that won't age badly and I can wear for the rest of my life.
Q9. What do you consider when buying new clothing?
So, for the most part I don't tend to buy new clothing if I can avoid it but if I do… sustainable credentials, their supply chains, do they pay their garment workers? What materials do they use? Do they use their platform to advocate for sustainability? B-Corp status is always good! And of course, it's the quality of the garment as well.
I know that there are a lot more sustainable brands out there, but actually, and not that this happens very often, if there is a brand that weren't perfect in sustainability but they were on their way, versus one that was really sustainable - if the quality of the item from the less sustainable brand was obviously better, I would be inclined to consider that because I want something to last. I want outfits that I can repeat again and again and again. It’s funny because, for example, Zara is one of the worst brands for sustainability in human rights cases and their quality of clothing is shit, but I still have a pair of shorts from when I was 15 that I got from Zara. It's not exactly the same argument but does this stand the test time? And I'll keep rewearing it and rewearing it. I've had people before say, 'oh, would you never buy from Zara?' No, I probably wouldn't buy from that sort of brand and I maybe won’t promote them, but I will still wear what I already own. For me, it's about making sure that the quality of the clothing actually stands up against time.
But for the most part, I try and just shop sustainable brands. Also, these brands already will have lower profit margins because they prioritise paying their workers, because they prioritise investing in good quality materials, so I'd rather my money go to fund those brands and initiatives.
Q10. How do you curate your wardrobe?
So, I have a rule of thumb in that I never buy anything that's “on trend”. What I mean by that is I'll buy something if I genuinely think that it's something I see myself wearing but, there's so much about fast fashion and overconsumption where they peddle these certain trends, and people go, ‘Oh my God, I love this, it’s so cool!’ Weeks later, you see hundreds of these items being sold on Depop because they've gone out of trend. If you look at my wardrobe, a lot of it is really basic, timeless, stuff.
I also am very picky about what colours I buy. I don't buy colours that I know don't work with me. There are some gorgeous colours out there and some really beautiful garments and I just know it's just not for me. So, I'm really picky about that. If you walk into my wardrobe it's all colour coordinated and that allows me to kind of pick what I’m wearing a lot easier.
And then if I'm going to buy something that feels a little bit different, it tends to be something that's not a basic, right? It's a coat, or maybe a boot or something that, you know, makes a bit more of a statement with an outfit. For anything that is for a formal event, I tend not to buy gowns and dresses, I usually rent them or get loans from designers because I just think, it's just a one off. Or if I have a dress, rewear it. There's so much of a weird culture about rewearing stuff. It's not seen as trendy, but we can make it trendy. We can. You know, outfit repeating, is a cool thing to do because there's so many ways you can change a garment anyway through accessories, makeup and styling it!
And it's been really interesting because I turned 30 last year and people are telling me my style has changed so much. My mum sent me a bunch of clothing that she was just not wearing and so I’ve liked dressing a little bit older and really shedding this image of a youth climate activist and I can just see these garments lasting me for the rest of my life because they are just timeless. They are that particular style that I just don't think will ever really fully go out of fashion, and it's the most confident that I've ever felt in my style choices.
I had so many questionable moments as a kid, but it's funny because I would only buy from charity shops, so I would just use that as an excuse to buy the most outlandish, garish thing that I thought was cool. And my friend was just like, 'you're basically like a Kiera Knightly climate activist right now,' because I always wear like this hat and scarf. I was like 'that’s the biggest compliment you could ever give.'