With each subsequent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we are witnessing the mainstream scientific consensus on the issue becoming stronger, the threat to humanity more severe, and the call to action more urgent. The science keeps telling us again that it’s crucially important that we go all in on climate action, collaborating across both business and government. We need to do it now because the window of time to stabilize the climate is disappearing fast. Unless there are immediate and large-scale reductions, limiting global warming to 1.5 degree will be beyond our reach.

Through our engagement with the fashion sector via Fashion Industry Charter, we have witnessed over these last three years that that many organizations in the sector have ramped up climate action work. For example, more and more companies are focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low-carbon logistics. Others have set up low-carbon material targets and have embraced circularity and regenerative agriculture. We see a lot of innovation in the sector but at the same time we should recognize that action is not happening at scale and actions by individual actors is insufficient to move the needle.

To truly make the transformative change we need, more needs to happen. This transition requires huge leaps in energy efficiency, renewable electricity generation and the creation of cutting-edge technologies. Solutions are on the rise and opportunities exist now for companies to save energy and materials costs, serve new customer needs, enhance their reputations and better attract and retain talent. Companies should consider all available tools and apply those that best work for them.

This transition also means that we need to look at a mutually-reinforcing intersection between all involved stakeholders – an inclusive multilateralism – to address the challenge of climate change, as perhaps the only chance we have, to drive ambition leading to both implementation of the Paris Agreement and the SDGs.

We need more of the industry to actively and meaningfully participate and engage and be bold in their deliberations. Changing business as usual in line with scientific consensus isn’t going to be easy – it isn’t easy for any organization – but it’s absolutely necessary.

Let’s remember, climate transition is a risk, but also an opportunity. As all transitions go, this one costs money. Money that will ultimately bring return. Good news is finance is increasingly on it and the opportunities to finance decarbonization grow fast – even in industries that are hard to decarbonize. Companies that have a plan to move forward in a low carbon and resilient way will be better positioned to attract financing. Fashion Industry needs to seize this opportunity.

Climate Change is not a competitive issue and is too big of a problem to be solved by anyone on their own. You have many ways to get engaged: the industry led Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action is one of these avenues. We value our partnership with the Fashion industry but we also demand much from it. We are also grateful for the support of many organizations such as Partnership for Sustainable Textiles who have actively contributed to the programme of the Charter with capacity building projects.

This sector can do so much to not only take direct climate action but influence the action of others. The Paris Agreement shows that we, as a people, as humanity, should and can work together towards positive change. But we must all work together to make it happen – in all parts of society and in all parts of the world for the benefit of all people for generations to come.

Sector risk Climate and GHG Emissions

On its website, the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles provides information on all eleven sector risks. Details on the sector risk climate and greenhouse gas emissions can be found here.