Only 38 representatives — not a big number — from the huge global fashion industry attended a summit held at the UN Climate Change Secretariat in Bonn, to evaluate the possibility of a joint future climate action programme. The two-day agenda mainly focused on global collaboration in the fashion sector to look at methodologies to enable a significant shift towards putting together a larger, joint environmental project. Brands including Adidas, C&A, Hugo Boss, H&M and FIlippa K attended the summit along with representatives from textile manufacturers, recycling associations and fibre innovators.

Environmental targets, an online platform to open dialogue and enhance engagement with policy makers at the national and international level, were key aspects of the agenda across the two-day United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) event.

One of the most significant aims of the initiative is to engage more organisations in these discussions. The next step will be preparation and execution of a report by the UN Climate Change Secretariat to share with stakeholders in the fashion sector. The UN hopes this report can be a catalyst in beginning a global climate action programme to integrate existing environmental initiatives within the fashion industry.

Mistra Future Fashion’s Sigrid Barnekow was the moderator for the panel discussions, along with the UNFCCCs executive secretary and manager for Strategy & Relationship: Patricia Espinosa and Niclas Svenningsen. In her role as moderator, Patricia said, “I believe we stand at a turning point in history. For the first time, humans are no longer just affected by weather cycles, we are affecting those cycles and suffering the consequences of doing so.”

Mistra was of the view that total greenhouse gas emissions from textile industry production is estimated to be 1.2 billion tonnes per year, which is believed to be more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Niclas highlighted the fact that to agree on such a program, all parts of the fashion system needs to be taken in consideration, “The fashion sector has a huge challenge, complex supply chains from primary producers to retail shops and fast-growing demand with limited recycling.”