Our team member Tove Westling ran a successful fashion PR agency in London. Today, she’s dedicated to using her skills to solve the climate crisis. Here are her thoughts on deciding to do a “climate quit”.
When and why did you decide to “climate quit”?
The decision was made around 2016, but I didn’t take the leap until 2020. I already worked in sustainable fashion, but realised that wasn’t enough. I needed to do more good for the world than what the fashion industry allowed me to do at that point.
Describe a specific moment when you realized that you needed to do something different with your life.
My shift toward a more sustainable lifestyle accelerated after I had my son in 2016. I felt a deep urgency to create a better world for him and future generations. But as I made lifestyle changes—some of them extremely challenging—it didn’t feel right to continue in my line of work. While I was working hard to reduce my own consumption, my job’s success depended on encouraging as many people as possible to buy more of my clients’ clothes. The dissonance was something I could no longer live with.
What are you doing now?
Since 2020, I work with marketing and communications at GoClimate.
How does it feel now since you changed your path?
I feel light. Free. The dissonance is gone, and I feel truly in my element among people who share my values. It feels good to know that my work hours are spent trying to create a better world, alongside people who don’t see me as extreme for choosing the train over the plane or for going entirely plant-based.
What’s your advice to others who want to do the same?
Take your time—don’t rush. Changing careers is a big step, and some parts of it may feel tough initially. You might even lose connections with people who resonated more with who you used to be. So, give yourself space to sit with it, clarify what you truly want, and let your “why” fully sink in. When your reason is deeply rooted, making the leap becomes easier, and you’ll be ready to handle whatever challenges come your way.