Kim Hellström,
Why does H&M Group focus on carbon law?
If the world is to deliver on the Paris agreement, we need to halve emissions before 2030, then halve again in ten years and reach net zero by 2050 at the latest. H&M Groups’ ambition is to align our targets with science and to be one step ahead, as our goal is to reach climate positive by 2040.
Will H&M Group reach its goals to halve emissions by 2030 and be climate positive by 2040?
I think reaching the 2030 halving goals will be harder than the 2040 climate positive goal. Everything points to the world awakening to the climate crisis right now. There is a lot of focus on tech and the grid will have more renewable energy when we get closer to 2040, so we will get more support in reaching that target. I am cautiously optimistic that we will reach the goal for 2030: Now is the time for world action and the coming 2-3 years will be really important if we are to reach it. For 2040 there will be no alternatives.
What is H&M Group’s climate strategy?
We will focus on three areas; energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate resilience. The core strategy is to combine renewable energy with energy efficiency. We don’t want to use any unnecessary energy in the chain, especially when it comes to biofuels, so it will have to be combined with energy efficiency. We are going to work on all levels, and will support our suppliers financially so that they can decarbonize. We are part of one of the dirtiest industries in the world – it is key to take the reduction pace seriously.
How can WWF, through the partnership, contribute to H&M Group reaching those goals?
WWF is an important partner with deep expertise and experience in the climate area and on biodiversity. WWF also serves as a watchdog to help H&M Group walk in the right direction and not to take decisions that might look good short term, but hurt the cause long term. I also see WWF as advisors and experts with high credibility that can help open doors to collaboration with others.
How much of the H&M Group GHG-emissions come from your supply chain? What are your targets for decarbonizing scope 3?
A majority, around 70 percent of H&M Group´s GHG-emissions come from our supply chain. Therefore, it is important for us to work actively with our suppliers (scope 3) in order to reach our goals; to decarbonize the whole value chain. We strive towards a climate neutral supply chain by 2030 and a climate positive value chain by 2040.
How is fast fashion compatible with climate positive?
H&M Group is aware that we have been a part of the problem but we are committed to make a change: We need to be a part of the solution as we intend to survive in the future. Besides heavily reducing our emissions and combine that smaller footprint with positive solutions, we also need to look at new business models and nudge society and customers. H&M Group’s view is that it is not the speed of the fashion that is the problem, it is how it is produced, used and re-used. If we manage to close the loop, people can still use fashion for expressing themselves without damaging the climate.
How does the climate work align with the biodiversity and water work within the WWF H&M Group partnership? Where are the synergies?
Everything fits together. We actively work finding synergies – projects that address this with win-win for nature and climate. Biodiversity will have a big role in reaching our climate resilience goals. Offsetting, such as regenerative agriculture and restoration of forests, will be important. However, offsetting can never compensate for the reduction of fossil fuels that is needed. And when using for example tree plantations, it is important that it is not monocultures and that they enhance biodiversity.
What is the most important thing in H&M Group’s climate work?
The most important thing is to lay a foundation that could lead the entire fashion industry towards a fossil free future. We are ready to fight for that.
If the world is to deliver on the Paris agreement, we need to halve emissions before 2030, then halve again in ten years and then reach net zero by 2050 at the latest. H&M Groups’ ambition is to align our targets with science and even be one step ahead, we have the goal to reach climate positive by 2040.
Kim Hellström, Climate and Water Lead, H&M Group
Climate Positive definition
Our world is rapidly changing due to climate change. The private sector has a critical role to drive and facilitate change to significantly reduce GHG emissions, as well as to advocate for all companies and others to act in line with the Paris Agreement. A group of companies, including H&M Group, have together with WWF taken the first steps to develop a framework, aiming to bring together brands who want a credible, scientific and globally accepted way of becoming a ‘climate positive’ company.
Committing to climate positive means:
- Set climate targets for the entire value chain (scope 1-3) aligned with the recommendations from IPCC and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to stay within the 1.5°C trajectory.
- To advocate clear and uncompromising support to the recommendations of the Paris Agreement, IPCC, the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) and relevant sectoral road maps to further accelerate the movement towards a low carbon society. It also includes encouraging sustainable customer purchases and enabling necessary behavioral changes.
- Not purchase carbon credits (i.e. “offsets”) to delay or replace any needed reductions of greenhouse gas emissions within the value chain (scope 1-3) required to reach the 1.5°C target. Carbon credit purchases should only be made in addition to such efforts to reach net negative emissions. Carbon credits should clearly be stated as a short to mid-term solution and should be reported separately. Meaningful, robust and lasting carbon removals should be realised to fulfil the climate positive ambition.
