© Md. Shahinur Rahman Flood disaster in Bangladesh: How climate change threatens the textile industry Since 20 August 2024, heavy rainfall has led to severe flooding in 11 districts of Bangladesh. According to the Ministry of Civil Protection, about 5.7 million people are affected, around 470,000 seek refuge in emergency shelters, and 23 people have been killed so far. Bangladesh is not calm. In early August, after weeks of protests with hundreds of dead, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned. Now the young transitional government under Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus is being put to the test: Since August 20, heavy rains have caused flooding and flooding. Particularly affected are the districts of Feni, Cumilla, Brammanbaria, Noakhali, Lokkhipur, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Chattogram, North Negal and Cox’s Bazar, home to the world’s largest refugee camp and home to around 1 million displaced Rohingya. ‘There are many garment factories in Chattogram. Workers in some factories are unable to go to work due to the flood and are therefore not entitled to pay for these days.’, Sohrab reports to the Green Bangla Garments Workers Federation. “Moreover, there are many workers whose families live in the flooded areas and are severely affected by the disaster.” The flood is destroying buildings and houses, disrupting roads and electricity supply, and many areas are cut off from the outside world. “Those who are not affected try to help where they can. It's shocking to see people starving day after day. The situation is completely out of control", says a member of our partner organisation BILLS. Many people seek shelter in shelters or on rooftops. There is a lack of everything, clean drinking water, food, clothing. Floods and climate change © MD Shahinur Rahmann Flooding during the monsoon season between June and September is not uncommon in Bangladesh. The rivers cross the banks and provide fertile soil. However, extreme betting events such as the current floods are on the rise in recent times. At the same time, studies show that Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In the past 20 years, Bangladesh has accounted for 60 percent of the world's deaths from cyclones, according to the World Bank.[i]. This situation could be further exacerbated by increased rainfall, as rainfall is projected to increase by an average of 53.6 mm over the coming decades. In addition, a study by the International Labour Organization (ILO) found that the number of hot days in the country has increased by 26 days per year in recent decades and is expected to increase by an additional 35.8 days per year by 2050.[ii]. The increasing heat also poses significant health risks. Particularly female employees in the textile sector suffer from heat stress[iii]. The link between climate change and the textile industry The textile industry is a major contributor to climate change. It is estimated to be responsible for 3% to 10% of global CO2 emissions.[iv] and consumes enormous amounts of water, resulting in about 20% of industrial water pollution[v]. At the same time, the textile industry is one of the most important sectors of Bangladesh's economy. After China, Bangladesh is the world's largest textile exporter. In fiscal year 2022/2023, the textile industry accounted for 84.58% of the country's exports and contributed 8.29% to gross domestic product[vi]. Germany is the second largest importer of clothing from Bangladesh after the US, with imports worth $6.68 billion in 2023.[vii] Threats and opportunities: The Road to Just Transition © MD Shahinur RahmannExtreme weather events could threaten $65 billion worth of clothing exports by 2030, destroying nearly one million jobs in key countries in the global fashion industry, including Bangladesh[viii]. This threatens one of the country's key economic sectors. The current flood disaster in Bangladesh not only underlines the urgency for a sustainable economy and effective climate protection, but also the need for a just transformation - a just transition. The recent protests that led to the government's resignation also clearly show the need to strengthen labour rights and achieve fair wages for all. Bangladesh's textile industry faces the challenge of adapting to climate change while protecting the rights and well-being of its workers. Despite these threats, there are opportunities: Due to the increasing demand for sustainable, circular textile production, Bangladesh could position itself as a pioneer. In order to achieve this, in addition to the new transitional government, companies must also take responsibility and pay textile workers their full wages and invest in sustainable structures and technologies despite delays and failures in production. donations © MD Shahinur RahmannWith our Solifonds, we support our partners in Bangladesh to provide direct assistance to those affected by the flood disaster and to contribute to a fairer and more sustainable textile industry in the long term. Donate now sources [i] World Bank: Bangladesh:Climate Data – Projections, n.d.. [ii] ILO: Turning up the heat, 2021 [iii] FEMNET: Gender-responsive health protection - News 2024 [iv] Quantis: Measuring fashion: Environmental Impact of the Global Apparel and Footwear Industries Study, 2018, (PDF), as well as Clean Clothes Campaign: The intersections of environmental and social impacts of the garment industry, 2022, [v] Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies – BILLS: Draft report: Assessing Exposure and Vulnerabilities of RMG Workers to Climate Change and Environmental Causes, 2024. [vi] BGMEA: Export performance, 2024, Uddin, Mohammad Jalal: Sectoral dependency and its impact on economy - A case study of Bangladesh, 2019; Syeda Rozana Rashid (The Solidarity Center): A Study on the Effects of Garment Production on Workers and their Local Communities in Bangladesh, 2022. [vii] BGMEA: Export performance, 2024 [viii] McKinsey, State of Fashion 2024 Other sources: Daily show: More and more textiles are coming from Bangladesh, 2023 FAZ: Flood in Bangladesh: Where the chimneys protrude from the water, 2024 TIME: At least 20 dead after flooding in Bangladesh, 2024 back
