Rising heat and intense flooding are connected with climate change all over the world, including in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, and Vietnam. They interrupt apparel [garment] workers’ lives and can cause illness. They also interrupt or slow down work in apparel factories. High heat and flooding will cost employers and workers hundreds of billions of dollars in lost earnings and millions of jobs by 2030 and 2050.

In this report from Cornell University Global Labor Institute and Schroders—a global investment firm—our top question is: What are the risks for apparel workers from climate change and how much economic damage will it do?

To answer this, we compare estimates for future temperatures and flooding in 30 apparel production centers around the world. Second, we look closely at the impacts for apparel workers in four countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan and Vietnam. And we look at how climate breakdown is already affecting garment workers. Then we compare laws and regulations about heat, sick leave, and social protections in these four countries. Finally, we suggest changes that unions, employers, governments, apparel buyers and investors should make now to protect workers and apparel manufacturing from high heat and intense floods.