To:
Inger Andersen
Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
UN Avenue, Gigiri
P.O. Box 30552, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
[email protected] / [email protected]
Subject: Naturism and Nudism as Sustainable Lifestyles: Request for Recognition and
UNEP Dialogue
Dear Executive Director Andersen and the UNEP Lifestyle & Consumption Division,
I write to you on behalf of NaturismRE (Naturism Resurgence) — a global initiative promoting naturism and nudism as sustainable, peaceful, non-sexual lifestyles aligned with
the values of environmental integrity, conscious living, and minimal consumption.
We respectfully request that UNEP formally acknowledge naturist and nudist living as legitimate low-impact lifestyles that reduce textile-related environmental burdens and
exemplify the type of behavioral change necessary for planetary health.
A Lifestyle That Reduces Without Sacrifice
Naturists and nudists intentionally reduce their reliance on:
• Fast fashion and synthetic textiles
• Water-intensive laundering
• Plastic-based hygiene products
• Clothing-related microplastic shedding
• Chemically treated fabrics and industrial dye runoff
This lifestyle is not only personal — it is structurally sustainable. It embodies values UNEP
already promotes:
• Sufficiency
• Regenerative culture
• Minimalist and circular economy practices
• Behavior-led carbon reduction
The Textile Industry’s Impact – Still Growing
The global textile industry contributes:
• ~10% of global CO₂ emissions
• ~20% of industrial water pollution
• ~35% of oceanic microplastics
• Billions of garments disposed of annually, many in the Global South
And yet, UNEP and other agencies rarely highlight reduction in clothing use as a behavioral mitigation pathway. Naturism and nudism are already doing this — voluntarily and
peacefully — and should be included in global sustainability narratives.
The NICP Act – Supporting Behavioral Transition
NaturismRE has authored the Naturist Integrity & Cultural Protection Act (NICP Act 2025). This legislative model:
• Defines naturism and nudism as non-sexual, lawful, and peaceful
• Protects individuals and communities who adopt minimal-clothing living from discrimination
• Prohibits media and institutional misrepresentation
• Supports inclusion of naturism in public policy, education, and environmental frameworks
The NICP Act is a tool that enables people to make low-impact lifestyle choices without fear, and helps break dependence on industrial overconsumption rooted in body shame and
commercial pressure.
Our Request to UNEP
We respectfully ask that UNEP:
1. Acknowledge naturism and nudism as legitimate, sustainable, low-consumption lifestyles
2. Engage with NaturismRE to explore the data and case for minimal clothing living as a decarbonisation pathway
3. Include naturist representation in future behavioral frameworks, reports, or lifestyle campaigns
4. Review the NICP Act as a supportive legislative mechanism for cultural
environmental transformation
A Climate-Conscious Culture Hidden by Taboo
Naturists are not rebels — we are practitioners of environmental integrity. Our existence is proof that low-impact lifestyles are already working — but we are denied visibility because
we challenge profit-based norms.
We ask UNEP to lead with vision, not convention — and to recognise this culture of sufficiency, peace, and ecological awareness for what it truly is: a solution already in
action.
We would be honoured to provide policy papers, lifestyle data, and the full NICP Act text at your request.
With great respect,
Vincent Marty
Founder – NaturismRE (Naturism Resurgence)
Sydney, Australia
www.naturismre.com