The mission of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action is to drive the fashion industry to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050, in line with the goal of keeping global warming below 1.5°C.
Since the launch of the Charter, 125 companies and 41 supporting organizations have committed to climate action. The good news is that many organizations in the sector are ramping up such action, but to truly make the transformative change that we need, more is required.

Climate change is the most pressing long-term challenge facing civilization. To avoid its worst impacts, urgent and impactful action across sectors and throughout society is needed. Scaling up this action in the fashion industry, which is the third-largest manufacturing sector in the world, is therefore critical. The industry is also facing growing calls from consumers and investors to boost sustainability measures, circular business models and low carbon strategies. Meeting these calls means engaging the entire value chain in climate action, from raw materials to the end-use (consumer) phase and leveraging the power of industry-wide action.

Launched in 2018 and convened by UN Climate Change, the Fashion Industry Charter provides a framework for multi-stakeholder dialogue and engagement on climate action across brands and suppliers involved in the fashion sector. The overarching mission of the Charter is to drive fashion to net-zero emissions no later than 2050, in line with a 1.5°C pathway. This mission is underpinned by various commitments and values related to ambitious climate action, strong collaboration, a dedication to the Sustainable Development Goals, transparency and accountability, and respect for human rights.

The Charter is composed of several working groups that cover topics such as a fashion industry decarbonization pathway, raw materials, low-carbon manufacturing, policy engagement, financial tools, owned and operated emissions, and promoting broader climate action. Each working group meets separately to develop workplans, strategies and concrete deliverables for their respective focuses, and achievements include the publication of various climate action playbooks and industry analyses, numerous webinars on fashion case studies and knowledge-sharing, and policy engagement road maps and calls to action.

As part of the signatory commitment to report on climate progress publicly, Charter members submitted climate disclosures to CDP for the 2020 reporting cycle. Over 70 per cent of signatories responded, with around one third reporting for the first time and nearly 60 per cent indicating a decrease in emissions since the last reporting cycle. An emphasis on mandatory public reporting will continue to be a focus of the Charter.

Building on its work to date, the Charter will continue to support collective industry efforts on climate action. This includes aligning with a 1.5 °C pathway, scaling up renewable energy and energy efficiency while phasing out coal in supply chains, accelerating low-carbon and sustainable raw materials, and promoting broader climate action, including with consumer engagement.