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This is as far a study titled ‘Climate Resilience and Fashion’s Costs of Adaptation,’ jointly conducted by Mapped in Bangladesh (MiB) and Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labour Relations (ILR) Global Labour Institute (GLI).
It underscored the urgent need for action to mitigate these challenges.
According to the report, Bangladesh, along with other key apparel production hubs like Cambodia, Pakistan, and Vietnam, could collectively lose over $65 billion in export earnings and close to 1 million jobs due to climate-related disruptions.
Executive director Jason Judd highlighted the need for investors to engage with apparel companies and emphasised the importance of adapting risk-management strategies to address climate impacts.
The study also examined the impact of extreme weather conditions on apparel workers and recommended establishing social-protection mechanisms and climate-adaptation finance to safeguard their welfare.
It emphasised the necessity of a collective response, including global and national bargaining, to address the sector’s challenges.
Meanwhile, worker surveys conducted in Bangladesh revealed concerns about rising workplace heat and the disruptive effects of flooding. Major floods, particularly riverine flooding, could halt or slow production for weeks, impacting worker incomes and livelihoods.
Despite the potential for job growth in the apparel sector, Bangladesh is projected to experience a decline of 1.26 million new jobs in RMG output by 2050.
The study highlighted the vulnerability of factories to flooding, with 82 per cent of disruptions expected to be caused by riverine flooding between 2030 and 2050. Nearly 10 per cent of factories are at risk of significant flooding in a 10-year flood scenario, with coastal flooding posing additional threats.
Addressing the study’s findings, industry leaders discussed the economic and operational implications, emphasising the need for investment and innovation to ensure long-term sustainability and competitiveness. They also underscored the importance of brand responsibility and collaborative efforts to address climate challenges and protect worker welfare.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)