By 2030, Dhaka, Bangladesh is expected to face significant challenges due to climate change, including a marked increase in floods and average extreme heat days reaching 65 annually. This situation poses severe risks to the over 3,000 apparel factories in the region, as the livelihoods of workers and industry sustainability are threatened.
Sarosh Kurbila, a professor at Cornell’s ILR School, emphasizes the urgent need for the global fashion industry to adapt to safeguard workers’ health and long-term profitability. Kurbila, alongside Jason Judd from the Global Labor Institute, is leading a project focused on mitigating these issues through factory-level thermal interventions. This initiative, supported by the Cornell Atkinson Sustainability Center, aims to evaluate the costs and impacts of cooling and flood defenses in collaboration with a Bangladeshi team and several apparel factories.
The project is one of six recipients of this year’s Academic Venture Fund (AVF) Award from Cornell Atkinson, which promotes interdisciplinary research on sustainability challenges. The fund has allocated $21.7 million to support various projects across Cornell University.
Additional funded projects include:
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Deep Geothermal Development: Utilizing AI to optimize well design for a deep geothermal system heating the university campus.
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Avian Influenza Research: An initiative to trace avian influenza transmission between wildlife and livestock, enhancing biosecurity measures.
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Extreme Heat Preparation: Developing training programs for public health practitioners to better prepare for heat emergencies.
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Recycling Innovations: Creating an AI-driven system for grading and reusing recycled wood, aligning with circular economy principles.
- Nutrient Recycling Systems: Establishing initiatives in New York and Kenya to convert human waste into fertilizers, improving food security and environmental health.
These projects reflect Cornell’s commitment to integrating research and market solutions to address pressing sustainability issues, as stated by David Lodge, director of the Cornell Atkinson Center.
