KATOWICE – Key representatives of the global fashion industry have made concrete commitments to address climate change by launching the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action at the Climate Change Conference (COP24) in Poland today. Under the auspices of UN Climate Change, leading fashion brands, supplier organisations, and NGOs, have agreed to collectively address the climate impact of the fashion sector across its entire value chain. The signatories have pledged to progress 16 principles and targets outlined in the charter, including the selecting of climate friendly and sustainable materials, using low-carbon transport, and exploring circular business models.’
H&M Group, adidas, Hugo Boss, Levi Strauss & Co., PUMA SE, Stella McCartney, Target and Tropic Knits Group are among the founding signatories. Working groups will be convened by the UN Climate Change in the new year to drive forward the ambitions in the charter.
“Climate change is undoubtedly one of, if not, the biggest challenge of our lifetime. It is and will affect everyone on this planet and our future,” said designer Stella McCartney. “This is why I am proud to be a signatory of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. I want to call on my peers in the business, from other brands to retailers and suppliers, to sign up to this charter now and take the necessary actions to address the reality of the issue of climate change in their business and value chains. Collectively we have a voice and the capacity to make a difference.”
The Charter recognises the role that fashion plays on both sides of the climate equation, as a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and as a sector with many opportunities to reduce emissions while contributing to sustainable development.
The charter sets out a vision of an industry responsible for net zero emissions by 2050, with the signatories committed to slashing their ‘aggregate greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030’.
Aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Charter defines issues that will be addressed by signatories, ranging from decarbonisation of the production phase, selection of climate friendly and sustainable materials, low-carbon transport, improved consumer dialogue and awareness, working with the financing community and policymakers to find scalable solutions, and exploring circular business models. To make concrete progress on these commitments, six working groups have been established in which signatories will work to define steps for implementation.
Anders Kristiansen, Esprit Group CEO, said: “Esprit has already taken important steps with an ambitious sustainability strategy with clear targets. Today, we are very proud to be a founding signatory of this important initiative. We as an industry can now take a more holistic approach to the urgent challenges we face.”
“The fashion industry is always two steps ahead when it comes to defining world culture, so I am pleased to see it now also leading the way in terms of climate action,” added UN Climate Change executive secretary Patricia Espinosa. “I congratulate the signatories of this important charter, which represents a unique commitment and collaboration from an array of fashion leaders. The Charter, like the renowned fashion runways of the world, sets an example that I hope others will follow.”