As part of its continuous stride for net zero “Annual Meeting of Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action” held online. BGMEA President Dr. Rubana Huq took part in the high-level segment of the AGM as a discussant while Ms. Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, delivered the key note address. Gonzalo Munoz, COP25 High-Level Climate Champion, Delman Lee, President and Chief Technology Officer at TAL Apparel Limited; Bjørn Gulden, Chief Executive Officer, PUMA; and Noel Kinder, Chief Sustainability Officer, Nike attended the high-level segment which was moderated by Lucy Shea, Chief Executive Officer, Futerra Group. Representatives of the charter signatory fashion brands, climate activist, thought leaders and practitioners took part in this virtual meet.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has signed the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action and is making committed efforts to align the Bangladesh RMG industry with the net zero target of the global fashion industry. In her deliberation Ms. Espinosa said, “UN fashion industry can and must be a trendsetter in the Race to Zero greenhouse gas emissions.” Delman Lee, President and Chief Technology Officer at TAL Apparel Limited, emphasized on virtual/digital sampling which would significantly reduce the lead time and is important in the post Covid situation, he also expect that all global fashion brands will adopt this digital sampling in the days to come.
“We have experience 3.18 billion worth of cancellations from brands in the pandemic,” said Dr. Rubana Huq. “There is a sharp disconnection between business and sustainability,” she added. Dr. Huq stressed on the importance of collaborative action for “race to zero” and also urged for responsible consumption. “Consumers have to aware of the emission associated with the product they are buying,” she said. The meeting discussed the longer-term strategy for catalyzing transformational action beyond 2020 and also looks at the immediate needs for progressing work in the critical period of 2020-2021 to respond to climate emergency.
According to IPCCC’s (Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change) 5th Annual report Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable country to climate change but ironically our carbon emission is one of the lowest in the world (0.47 metric tons per-only). We are experiencing of natural calamities almost every year due to climate change impacts. This recurrent change of climate may lead us to food insecurity, river erosion, bio-diversity loss, climate migrates and many other unseen dire crisis in the days to come. So, climate change has always been a major area of concern for Bangladesh. Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, MP is the Chair of CVF (Climate Vulnerable Forum) and her prudent leadership at a global level has always been applauded by the global leaders. In line with this strategic direction, BGMEA has been making efforts to align the Bangladesh RMG industry with the net zero target of the global fashion industry.
