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What do the fashion industry, Vatican City, Canada and South Kesteven District Council have in common? The answer is that they’ve all declared a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_emergency_declaration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate emergency</a>. And they aren’t the only ones. Darebin, Australia <a href="https://www.caceonline.org/history.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first declared a climate emergency</a> in 2016. Since then over 1,900 local governments in 34 countries have made climate emergency declarations (as of June 2021). In fact, <a href="https://www.cedamia.org/global/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around a billion people</a> live in places that have declared a climate emergency — that’s one in ten people on the planet.
Declaring a climate emergency is important as it amounts to an official admission that climate change exists and that more must be done to stop it. And of course, it’s the action that’s more important than the acknowledgement. The climate emergency movement is reaching something of a tipping point now. It’s becoming a launchpad for real change, rather than a mere symbolic gesture. Nowhere can this be seen more clearly than with the emerging trend for industries to join countries and councils in declaring.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the industries that have declared a climate emergency, what it means for those industries and how other businesses and industries can get involved too.

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<a href="https://www.tourismdeclares.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency</a> is a global community of 441 tourism organisations, companies and professionals, committed to delivering a Climate Action Plan with the aim of halving emissions by 2030.
As the industry sets out to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, it also has a golden opportunity to reset, reimagine and drive positive change. This initiative advocates for climate action through its networks, helps anyone in the industry to access the right knowledge and tools, and brings its leaders together to collaborate.
Any organisation or individual working in tourism can join by making a <a href="https://www.tourismdeclares.com/how-to-join" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declaration</a> on their website and signing the Glasgow Declaration on <a href="https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/programmes/sustainable-tourism/glasgow-declaration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Climate Action in Tourism</a>.

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Launched in July 2019, <a href="https://www.musicdeclares.net/gb/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Music Declares Emergency</a> is a group of artists, music industry professionals and organisations standing together to declare a climate emergency and call for an immediate government response. 
The group takes a practical, yet creative approach. Their website is full of neat suggestions for how anyone in the industry can <a href="https://musicdeclares.net/gb/take-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener">take action</a>. This is backed up by <a href="https://musicdeclares.net/gb/act/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No Music on a Dead Planet </a>— a campaign run alongside <a href="https://rankin.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rankin</a> and 15 artists to share simple and impactful ways to act on climate change. Anyone can also make a donation, or <a href="https://www.musicdeclares.net/gb/shop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">buy some very cool looking merchandise</a> to support the cause.
Those working in the industry who want to join can <a href="https://musicdeclares.net/gb/declarers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sign the declaration</a>.

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<a href="https://fashion-declares.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fashion Declares</a> is a network of individuals from right across the fashion industry that is focused on fuelling a large-scale, bottom-up movement to create a regenerative new approach to fashion. 
The movement is based on five core commitments: speaking out for urgent action; decarbonisation, restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity; social justice and the just transition; radical transparency and corporate governance; and the regenerative fashion model.
Fashion Declares is committed to equipping its members with tools and resources, while running regular webinars. The group is inviting individuals at all levels to join its grass-roots movement by signing an open letter.

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<a href="https://businessdeclares.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business Declares </a>is a not-for-profit organisation formed of a coalition of senior leaders from businesses including The Body Shop, Pukka and Good Energy. Their aim is to collaborate to accelerate climate action right across the business sector. 
The group frequently shares resources, runs events, lobbies for regulatory change and facilitates conversations on the complex challenges businesses are facing. They also have an official partnership with the <a href="https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN COP26 Race to Zero Campaign</a>.
When members<a href="https://businessdeclares.com/apply" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> join Business Declares </a>they’re asked to acknowledge their membership on their website, set a net zero target as close as possible to 2030, consider and discuss their Scope 3 impacts, and support ongoing Business Declares advocacy efforts.

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<a href="https://coveringclimatenow.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covering Climate Now</a> collaborates with journalists to drive more informed reporting on climate change and ensure that the climate is an important part of every newsroom beat. It has also released a <a href="https://coveringclimatenow.org/the-press-and-the-climate-emergency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement declaring a climate emergency</a> and invited all news organisations to sign it. 
The group was co-founded by the Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation in association with The Guardian and WNYC in 2019, and now has over 460 partners.

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<a href="https://www.culturedeclares.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Culture Declares Emergency </a>is an international movement of individuals and organisations in the arts and cultural sector, who have all declared a climate emergency. 
Those who sign up are asked to make a statement about why they’ve declared and what they plan to do, put a kitemark on their website or email, and get involved by joining working groups, attending events and sharing learnings.

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Finally, <a href="https://www.pharmacydeclares.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pharmacy Declares </a>is a group of climate-conscious UK pharmacy professionals calling for organisations across the sector to make their own declarations. They’re also actively pushing for divestments of fossil fuels and positive reinvestments, along with better climate leadership and education in the industry.

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Clearly, business as usual is no longer an option, so it’s inspiring to see so many businesses and industries stepping up to become part of the solution. What is even more inspiring about these examples, is that they go way beyond simply making a statement. This isn’t about PR, it’s about collectively starting something new. These groups are all engineering plans and policies in their industries to bring about real change.
What these groups show more than anything, is that anyone can spark action in their industry. They all started with like minded individuals coming together, putting a stake in the ground and galvanising others to join through their professional networks. It truly is people power in action. All it takes is a handful of industry peers with a strong will and a clear commitment, and a movement can be born. 
If you want to get involved, first start by researching if your industry has already declared a climate emergency. If it has you can join, take part in the movement and call on your colleagues to do the same. If not, start one! As these examples show you don’t need to wait for permission, and there are very few barriers. Judging by the membership of the groups that have already formed, it seems that there are plenty of people in every industry wanting to get involved. “If you build it, they will come” as the saying goes. 
<h3>We’ll leave you with five tips to bear in mind if you’re thinking of declaring a climate emergency: </h3>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Rally your peers &#8211; Use your industry and organisational networks to their fullest. Try and get declaring a climate emergency to the top of the agenda at your next company board meeting and look for speaking opportunities at industry events. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bake it into business planning &#8211; Lead the way by basing your business strategy around reversing climate change, shifting business models if needed, and setting big goals to lower your carbon footprint. Many companies are now aiming for net zero by 2030. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Set clear targets &#8211; Any big goal needs clear targets to get there, and they need the full backing of your leadership team. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make it inspiring &#8211; Many of these groups have beautiful websites and strong brands. This is important as it will give peers a pull to join the cause, and let them wear their membership like a badge of honour. Perhaps even literally! </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Empower your colleagues &#8211; Make it easy for employees, colleagues and peers to take action. From providing open letters and statements to sign, to sharing resources and running events, the transition from buying in to taking action should be easy and seamless.  </li>
</ol>
For more information, you can also <a href="https://pardot.bcorporation.net/climateemergencyplaybook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">download B Lab UK’s playbook</a> for business on how to declare a climate emergency.
<a href="https://ecologi.com/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up today to take real climate action with Ecologi</a>.

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Hopescrolling: The good news timeline

It’s not all bad. While there’s a lot of negative news about the climate, let’s not forget the good stuff. Find climate wins, reasons to be hopeful and plenty of positivity in our good news timeline.

The good news timeline

Ready to make a difference for our planet? Get in touch, and let’s chat about how we can help you on your climate journey. 

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Ecologi acquires Net Zero Now

In a landmark move set to reshape corporate climate action, we’re excited to announce that Ecologi, the UK&#8217;s most trusted climate action platform, has acquired <a href="https://netzeronow.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Net Zero Now</a>, the sector-specific carbon measurement and reduction platform for businesses.
The combined entity operating under the Ecologi brand will create a single solution for industry climate leadership towards net zero. The integration combines sector-specific carbon measurement and reduction with world class verified climate projects that supports businesses wherever they are on their net zero journey.

<h2>The game-changing impact of this acquisition</h2>
The strategic acquisition solves two fundamental challenges in corporate climate action: businesses have been forced to choose between fragmented solutions and generic ‘one size fits all’ approaches that ignore crucial sector-specific needs. By combining Net Zero Now&#8217;s sector-specific protocol expertise with Ecologi&#8217;s platform funding top-tier climate projects, we&#8217;re creating a tailored and complete solution helping businesses lead their industries towards net zero.

Reduce emissions.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Measure Scope 1, 2 &amp; 3 emissions with sector-specific industry GHG protocols</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Set short term and long term reduction target emissions aligned to SBTi</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tailored reduction plans for sector-specific emissions pathways</li>
</ul>
Restore our planet.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Compensate for unavoidable emissions as you reduce them through 
funding verified, high-quality carbon avoidance and removal credits</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Contribute to global climate goals by funding climate Impact Funds for 
beyond value chain mitigation and/or as part of your products &amp; services</li>
</ul>
Report on progress.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Corporate sustainability standards e.g. CSRD, SECR, SBTi, CDP, B Corp</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sector specific standards e.g. Accountancy, Hospitality, Public Sector</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Custom climate impact reports and embeddable dashboards</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Communications toolkit for board and stakeholder engagement</li>
</ul>

Climate leadership starts here

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Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director of Net Zero Now, said:
<blockquote>Businesses want to take climate action, but they want to know they’re doing it right and what’s right for a restaurant business is not the same as what’s right for an accounting firm.  They need industry-specific guidance and clear pathways to climate leadership. By joining forces with Ecologi, we&#8217;re creating a platform that allows us to provide credible, simple and affordable, sector-specific, end-to-end climate solutions for businesses in our existing sectors and collaborate with industry partners on new sector-led solutions.</blockquote>

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The acquisition aligns with Ecologi&#8217;s mission to accelerate business climate action and grow our 24,000 strong customer base. Established sector protocols including hospitality and professional services will be the initial focus with plans to expand across additional industries throughout 2025.
With organisations under increasingly complex stakeholder and industry compliance demands for environmental accountability, this end-to-end solution also ensures streamlined reporting, monitoring progress, supply chain transparency, and voluntary disclosures. This transforms business leaders into climate leaders with the confidence to tackle their climate commitments head-on, communicating and meeting critical regulatory requirements like SECR, CSRD and SBTi.

<h2>More about Net Zero Now</h2>
Founded in 2021, Net Zero Now has developed a proprietary sector-led approach, which combines climate expertise alongside the sector knowledge and experience of relevant industry bodies, industry influencers and larger businesses to reach a consensus around what Net Zero means in practice for businesses in each sector. To date, the company has measured and validated 1.8 MtCO2e lifetime emissions supporting more than 50+ leading brands including Coca Cola Europacific Partners, L&#8217;Orèal, Heineken, Pernod Ricard, Subway, Hard Rock Cafe, Adnams, Edgbaston and James Cowper Kreston.

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4 hospitality companies leading the way on climate action

Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have in the hospitality industry — it&#8217;s a business necessity. With increasing regulatory pressure, shifting customer expectations, and the growing impact of climate change, hospitality businesses are finding that taking action isn&#8217;t just about responsibility—it&#8217;s about resilience. This is particularly evident as 70% of Brits are now actively trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle (Nutritics, 2024), and 44% say sustainability is important in their choice of venue to visit (Morning Advertiser, 2023). From tackling food waste to cutting carbon emissions, the sector is facing both challenges and opportunities to drive meaningful change.
At the heart of this transformation is the food system. The hospitality industry relies on farming—a sector responsible for nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions and one that is increasingly vulnerable to climate disruption. Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather, and supply chain instability are already affecting food availability and costs, making sustainability not just an ethical priority but a commercial imperative. This is reflected in consumer behavior, with 47% of consumers wanting more information about carbon footprints on menus, and 41% saying this information would influence their order (CGA Strategy, 2023).
Fortunately, forward-thinking hospitality businesses are stepping up, driven by clear market demand—34% of UK pub and restaurant goers are prepared to spend more in venues with strong sustainability credentials, increasing to 47% for Gen Z and Millennials (Sustainability Beat, 2023). This generational shift is significant, with consumers aged 18-34 being nearly twice as likely to pay more for sustainability than those aged 55+ (WaterAid, 2023).
As the food and beverage industry awakens to its environmental responsibilities, and with climate change threatening to fundamentally disrupt global food security, restaurants and food service enterprises are stepping up to take meaningful climate action. These pioneering businesses are demonstrating how sustainability can enhance business performance while making a positive environmental impact, even as they navigate the unique challenges of being both a contributor to and victim of climate change.
Read about four hospitality companies that are championing climate action, and explore how they are turning environmental challenges into business opportunities.
Whether it&#8217;s engaging employees, measuring carbon footprints, or developing new sustainable service offerings, these venues are setting the standard for a greener future in hospitality.
<ol>
<li>Hawksmoor: Leading Sustainability in Fine Dining</li>
<li>Freemans Event Partners: Pioneering Sustainable Event Catering</li>
<li>Lisini Pub Co: Family Legacy Meets Sustainable Innovation</li>
<li>The Assemblies: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality in Bristol</li>
</ol>

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<h2>Hawksmoor: leading sustainability in fine dining</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li> Achieved B Corp certification in September 2022</li>
<li>Comprehensive review of operational sustainability across all locations</li>
<li>Implementation of energy reduction initiatives</li>
<li>Enhanced waste management systems</li>
<li>Water conservation measures</li>
<li>Integration of sustainability into staff training programs</li>
</ul>
Hawksmoor&#8217;s journey exemplifies how restaurant groups can lead in sustainability within the hospitality sector. Their comprehensive approach includes setting ambitious net-zero targets for 2030 while focusing on immediate operational improvements. The restaurant group&#8217;s commitment is evidenced by their systematic review of day-to-day operations across their locations in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and New York. What sets them apart is their holistic approach to sustainability: examining energy usage, waste management, and water consumption while maintaining their reputation for quality dining. Their structured approach to employee engagement includes a two-day intensive induction program that emphasises sustainability, making it a core part of their culture.
Ellie Besley-Gould, Head of Purpose at Hawksmoor, said:
<blockquote>We&#8217;ve been heavily involved with the Sustainable Restaurant Association since about 12 years ago&#8230; It&#8217;s a really important area for us to be stepping up the work in, looking at how we can inspire change.</blockquote>

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<h2>Freemans Event Partners: pioneering sustainable event catering</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Achieved 38.4% reduction in emissions compared to projections</li>
<li>Implemented innovative &#8220;Zero Zone&#8221; testing area</li>
<li>Introduced shuttle buggies for reduced transport emissions</li>
<li>Deployed hybrid power generators</li>
<li>Established carbon menu labelling</li>
<li>Enhanced waste management through compostable solutions</li>
</ul>
Freemans Event Partners&#8217; journey demonstrates how large-scale event catering can embrace sustainability without compromising service quality. Their innovative approach at the British Grand Prix showcases their commitment to reducing environmental impact in high-pressure environments. The company&#8217;s dedication is evidenced by exceeding their initial 5% emissions reduction target and implementing a groundbreaking &#8220;Zero Zone&#8221; area for testing new sustainability initiatives. What sets them apart is their data-driven approach to sustainability: measuring and analysing emissions across all aspects of their operation, from food stalls to logistics and waste management.
Richard West, Sustainability Manager at Freemans Event Partners, said:
<blockquote>Through partnering we&#8217;ve realised that collaboration is key to making lasting and impactful environmental changes in the events catering industry. The process has been much more straightforward than we thought it would be and we look forward to setting even bigger reductions targets as we go forward.</blockquote>

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<h2>Lisini Pub Co: family legacy meets sustainable innovation</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Reduced scope 1 and 2 emissions by 48% through renewable electricity</li>
<li>Won the Flor de Cana Rum Sustainability Award</li>
<li>Achieved lowest electricity demand in 10 years</li>
<li>Implemented LED lighting and sensor systems</li>
<li>Launched biodiversity project at Dalziel Park</li>
<li>Developed sustainable kitchen practices and menu innovation</li>
<li>Created venue-specific green teams</li>
</ul>
Lisini Pub Co&#8217;s journey demonstrates how family-owned hospitality businesses can transform their environmental impact while preserving their heritage. Their comprehensive approach combines traditional Scottish hospitality with modern sustainability practices across their venues, including the historic Angels hotel in Uddingston. What sets them apart is their innovative approach to sustainability: implementing competitive green teams across venues, achieving dramatic emissions reductions, and maintaining their commitment to quality service. Their structured approach includes both operational improvements and employee engagement, making sustainability a core part of their 45-year family legacy.
Siobhan Edwards, Director Lisini Pub Group, said:
<blockquote>It&#8217;s not until we&#8217;ve been working in the last year that we&#8217;ve really truly understood our carbon footprint. It&#8217;s the right thing to do, it&#8217;s the right thing for our customers, for our planet, for the environment, and actually it saves us money at the same time.</blockquote>

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<h2>The Assemblies: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality in Bristol</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Established 100-mile radius local sourcing policy</li>
<li>Implemented full venue LED lighting systems</li>
<li>Introduced reusable cups for music events</li>
<li>Developed nose-to-tail food waste reduction policy</li>
<li>Created vegetarian menu options to reduce emissions</li>
<li>Enhanced supplier partnerships for sustainability</li>
<li>Achieved an impressive 3-star rating in the Food Made Good Standard, scoring 92% overall and 91% specifically in environmental practices</li>
</ul>
The Assemblies&#8217; journey showcases how urban hospitality venues can lead in sustainability while building strong community connections. Since their inception in 2009, they&#8217;ve demonstrated that local sourcing and environmental responsibility can coexist with business success. What sets them apart is their data-driven approach to sustainability: analysing carbon ratings, implementing local sourcing policies, and creating innovative menu solutions. Their comprehensive strategy includes everything from sound system upgrades to waste reduction initiatives, making sustainability integral to their operation.
Anna Blightman, Brand Marketing Manager, said:
<blockquote>Something that our partnership has allowed us to do, is lay all the data out on the table so that we can actually look at it, and stand to analyse it and understand where we can make changes. If we don&#8217;t start now, when will we start?</blockquote>

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As these leading hospitality companies show, meaningful climate action can drive significant business benefits—from stronger customer and employee engagement to enhanced brand reputation and risk mitigation. By taking a thoughtful, transparent, and impactful approach, businesses can pave the way for a sustainable future.
Ready to take the lead in climate action? Book in a 30 minute discovery call with our Hospitality sector experts and find out more about partnering with Ecologi to measure your emissions, set reduction goals and fund high-quality climate action on the road to net-zero.

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