Climate change is not a distant threat. It is already affecting lives and livelihoods across global supply chains that power the fashion industry. In my Reuters Op-Ed, I argue that as the world heats up, the industry’s climate response must move beyond a narrow focus on carbon accounting and adopt a people-centered approach that protects the workers who make our clothes.
Garment workers, most of them women, are on the front lines of rising temperatures. In many production hubs, basic protections such as ventilation, drinking water, and adequate breaks are insufficient. This leaves workers exposed to dangerous heat levels and long-term health risks. Yet climate strategies from major brands often overlook these realities. Emission targets are prioritised, while the daily risks faced by workers inside factory halls receive far less attention.
This disconnect is not only unjust. It also weakens the industry’s resilience. A credible climate transition requires investment in worker safety, responsible purchasing practices, and shared financing to help suppliers upgrade facilities. It also means treating decent wages and safe working conditions as foundational, not optional. Some companies are starting to recognise this, but too few address workplace heat as a material climate risk.
If the fashion sector wants a transition that is both sustainable and fair, it must put workers at the centre of climate plans from the outset.
To read more, click here - https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/world-heats-up-fashions-climate-transition-must-start-with-workers-2025-08-26/
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