Apparel sector's stake in climate adaptation

FE Team | Published: December 14, 2025 22:29:21

The findings of a new study conducted by the Global Labor Institute (GLI) of Cornell University, USA could trigger both optimism and concern. The study suggests investing in climate adaptation can help Bangladesh fetch US$122.01 billion in apparel exports by the year 2030. On the flip side, however, it warns that without adaptation measures, exports from this sector could fall sharply to US$95.35 billion, representing a 21.85 per cent loss. The study attributes this effect primarily to lost worker productivity due to extreme heat and flooding, which subsequently takes a toll on overall industrial output. The employment forecast is equally grim in the absence of adaptation. By 2030, the failure to adapt could result in a loss of 250,000 potential jobs. Investment in climate adaptation measures, therefore, is not merely a choice but a key imperative for the future of the garment industry and many other sectors.
These losses are not hypothetical. It is driven by measurable physical realities. For example, Dhaka has seen a significant 56.1 per cent rise in the average number of hot days over 35°C in the last two decades. The prediction of days exceeding the moderate heat stress threshold is set to nearly double in Dhaka by 2050, from an already high number in 2030. This heat directly correlates with falling productivity. The study highlights that workers in Bangladesh are the most climate-vulnerable among the 21 apparel production centres assessed. This is compounded by a low climate readiness score and inadequate social protection coverage. Furthermore, the dual threat of intensifying heat and flooding cause machinery damage, material loss and significant business disruption.
The GLI report offers a set of recommendations as well. These include setting and enforcing mandatory standards for work hours, rest breaks and hydration. It also calls for investing in cooling systems and resilient infrastructure so that heat stress and flooding can be mitigated. At the same time, the study suggests classifying heat stress and floods as health hazards, allowing workers to take paid leave. The study makes it clear that climate adaptation is synonymous with economic stability and social justice for Bangladesh. The investment required now is a fraction of the catastrophic losses projected for the near future. It is time for policymakers and apparel industry entrepreneurs to heed the warning of climate change and act decisively to protect millions of livelihoods and sustain the sector's growth momentum.
Over the years, Bangladesh has made significant strides in greening the factories. The country can now boast the highest number of green garment factories in the world. However, it cannot afford to let complacency set as far greater challenges loom in future both in terms of the loss of trade privileges following the LDC graduation and climate vulnerability. In order to sustain the growth momentum in the post-LDC era, the industry must enhance competitiveness through product diversification, high-value addition, technology upgrading and skill development. The challenges ahead may seem daunting, but with concerted efforts from brands and strategic policy support from the government, the sector can secure a sustainable growth.