Creative Climate Charter

Industry members of the Creative Industries Council have collectively endorsed a pioneering new Creative Climate Charter designed to galvanise action on the climate and biodiversity crisis.

The Charter was formally adopted at a meeting of the Creative Industries Council (CIC), a joint forum between the UK government and industry leaders from across the creative sector. It outlines how the creative sector can use its “collective imagination, economic influence and leadership” to reduce its environmental impact and find “practical and scalable” solutions to tackling the climate crisis.

The Charter also highlights how – as a sector populated by storytellers, creators, communicators, designers and educators – the creative industries have a “unique ability” to be role models for change.

The Charter fulfils a major commitment of the Creative Industries Sector Vision, the long-term strategic plan for the creative industries published by the Government in partnership with the CIC earlier this year.

The Sector Vision included an objective for the creative industries to play a growing role in tackling environmental challenges. It also set out a goal to develop a Creative Climate Charter, unifying the sector around shared goals and principles to drive further action in reducing climate impacts. The Charter was developed in collaboration with members of a CIC working group co-chaired by Minnie Moll, Chief Executive of the Design Council, and Alison Tickell, Chief Executive of Julie’s Bicycle.

The group will regularly revisit the charter so that it remains relevant and dynamic. The Charter includes eight key principles:
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1. Targets and Pathways

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● Set ambitious, measurable targets to minimise the negative environmental impacts of our work in line with the science.
● Commit to reaching net zero and take action to meet legal targets to reduce greenhouse gases.

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2. Creativity
● Engage our audiences in climate action through storytelling and inspiring narratives that drive positive change and challenge disinformation.
● Use our creativity and innovation skills to find, and where possible scale, climate solutions that recognise the systemic changes required.

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3. Stewardship
● Work in a resource-efficient way and demand the same of our value chains and partners.
● Commit to the principles of the circular economy, the 3 Rs (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle) and nature-based, regenerative solutions.
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4. Learning
● Ensure the climate crisis is prioritised in how we work, and in our governance.
● Provide environmental training, tools and learning opportunities for the creative workforce.
● Continually learn from each other and from initiatives outside the creative industries.

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5. Advocacy
● Speak up and out about the climate and biodiversity crisis, to raise awareness and drive positive action with government, colleagues, partners and the public.
● Champion existing initiatives within the creative industries, and grow our collective capacity to shape and influence the wider debate.

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6. Collaboration
● Strengthen partnerships and collaborate with our peers, supply chains and stakeholders to drive tangible actions.
● Jointly support one another, sharing knowledge, prototyping and championing solutions together nationally and internationally.

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7. Just Transition
● Recognise the ethical imperative of the just transition, and take action to support it.
● Ensure the engagement and inclusion of the full and diverse range of people and voices that the creative sector encompasses.
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8. Accountability
● Where possible, and relevant, regularly report and publish our progress to the Creative Industries Council.
● Ensure environmental performance is included as a key metric within our governance and public reporting.
● Share relevant and meaningful data that tracks progress on decarbonisation (mitigation, adaptation, net zero), and nature positive Impacts.
● Commit to honesty and transparency to avoid greenwashing and green-hushing.
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Read the Charter.

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