Fashion United for COP26

Fashion United with a call to action for COP26

Fashion Roundtable, Fashion Revolution, Centre for Sustainable Fashion, Common Objective, Eco Age, and The Sustainable Angle penned an open letter, in collaboration with businesses and civil society organisations to world leaders ahead of COP26.

The letter highlighted the integral role and impact the fashion industry can play in addressing net zero and climate change goals, should leaders recognise this importance and act accordingly to encourage and pursue change.

Whilst the fashion industry has contributed to harmful environmental practices and conditions, as such a key part of our global economy and of everyone’s lives, it needs to play a prominent part in the solution.

The resourcefulness and creativity to tackle climate change exists already within the industry, but requires the support of world leaders to recognise the potential it has to contribute to resolving the climate crisis.

In a call for global governmental action and recognition, the letter highlighted the need for collective action, waste elimination, business responsibility, clothing skills development and education and a shift towards business models that contribute to a just transition towards a well-being economy. 

1. Collective action to achieve net zero emissions by no later than 2050

2. Resourcefulness in waste elimination

3. Increase responsibility by businesses towards their global supply chains

4. Support skills development in education to encourage children to learn the necessary skills to make, repair and reuse their clothes

5. Frame any solutions to the climate emergency around business models which shift the focus from profit and loss, to a just transition towards the well-being economy