The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) are proud to announce that we have joined the UNFCCC’s Fashion for Global Climate Action initiative as a Supporting Organisation signatory to the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.
The Fashion for Global Climate Action initiative calls on the Fashion industry to acknowledge the contribution of the sector to climate change and our responsibility to strive towards climate neutrality for a safer planet. Through collective action and bold leadership, we have the power to make this fast and drastic transformation. By signing the Charter, AFC make a public commitment to playing our part to ensure the Australian and Global fashion sector is on the path to a low-carbon future.
The Charter recognises the critical need for cities, regions, companies and investors from around the globe to quickly and effectively help implement the Paris Agreement and accelerate the transformative change needed to reach greenhouse gas (GHG) emission neutrality (i.e. climate neutrality) in the second half of the twenty-first century.
In December 2018, the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action was launched, with the vision to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Charter document was created by fashion stakeholders under the auspices of UN Climate Change, who’ve identified ways in which the broader textile, clothing and fashion industry can move towards a holistic commitment to climate action.
Speaking at the launch event for the Framework, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa explained that the fashion industry is in a unique position to lead change in the world.
“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.”
The fashion sector has an enormous potential to reach and to inform consumers worldwide. Companies and organisations in the fashion industry can lead by example by taking responsibility for their climate footprint in their entire supply chain and by inspiring climate action beyond the fashion sector.
The fashion sector is striving to raise ambition to urgently and significantly increase global climate action to limit global warming to 1.5oC. Moving beyond previous industry-wide commitments, the Charter includes a target of 30% GHG emission reductions by 2030 and zero net emissions by 2050. There is also a commitment to analyse and set a decarbonisation pathway for the fashion industry drawing on methodologies from the Science-Based Targets Initiative.
This a clear and much needed demonstration that the fashion industry is serious about urgently acting on climate change, which the AFC are proud to be part of.
“This is a critical move for the Australian Fashion industry in addressing our impact on the environment. AFC’s signing of the Charter demonstrates leadership for the future direction of our local sector. It highlights that our actions now can make a difference, and through global collaboration we will make a difference. We have a duty to influence and care for the world we live in, to be part of a sustainable, responsible industry.”
Professor Robyn Healy
Dean, School of Fashion and Textiles RMIT University
Board member AFC
By uniting behind the 16 principles and targets of the Charter, fashion brands, retailers, supplier organisations, and others come together to take action on climate change. It is now more important than ever to engage everyone and to put the fashion sector on the path to a low-carbon future to drive global climate action for a safer planet.
The AFC will work collaboratively with other Signatories and Supporting Organisations to deliver on the principles enshrined in the Charter document. This will be done through Working Groups, which will bring together relevant stakeholders, experts and initiatives in the fashion and broader textile sector. The initiative seeks to identify and amplify best practices, strengthen existing efforts, identify and address gaps, facilitate and strengthen collaboration among relevant stakeholders, and join resources and share tools to enable the sector to achieve its climate targets.
In signing the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, AFC commit to support implementation of the principles enshrined in the Charter document and to work collaboratively with our peers and relevant stakeholders to develop, implement and enhance the climate action agenda in fashion.
We hope our commitment will inspire companies, communities and governments to raise their climate ambition and for our member companies to become signatories themselves and in a united effort to limit global warming to 1.5oC.
“Climate Change is the issue of our time. The global fashion industry is, and has been, a major contributor to the problem, but this means we are a key part of the solution too. Making public commitments to taking action on Climate Change is critical to making progress on this, as is setting milestones and being actively involved. By signing the Charter, AFC commit to working with the Australian and the global industry to make change happen.”
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David Giles-Kaye, CEO, AFC
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