Roundtable 2: Developing a deeper understanding of the adaptation response to build a more climate resilient cotton sector

The three two-hour roundtable sessions are designed to build on each other over the course of five weeks and participants are encouraged to attend all three sessions. Each session will run online twice on each date, to suit time zones across the Americas, Europe, Africa, India and South East Asia.

Climate change is set to pose significant risks to cotton - the most widely produced natural fibre. But what exactly are the potential environmental and social-economic impacts of climate change on key cotton growing regions and the wider industry? What are the implications for producers, brands & retailers, cotton standards and the investor community? And how can the sector come together to use this information to develop responses that build climate resilience and address climate justice issues, in addition to rapid decarbonisation efforts? 

Earlier this year, the Cotton 2040 initiative - convened by Forum for the Future and in partnership with climate-risk experts Acclimatise - published the first ever global analysis of physical climate risks across global cotton growing regions for the 2040s. This found that half of the world’s cotton growing regions could face high or very high climate risk exposure to climate hazards such as wildfires, drought and extreme rainfall. 

We are now inviting you to join us for three roundtable events where we will dive into this data in deeper detail, sharing a geography-specific analysis of the expected impacts and implications across different cotton growing regions, seeking to understand the critical impacts for actors across the supply chain and to collectively prioritise both urgent and long-term action across the cotton sector.

Roundtable details:

• Roundtable 1: Thursday 11 November:
  Understanding the climate risks facing the cotton sector and exploring the implications for future production

• Roundtable 2: Tuesday 30 November:
  Developing a deeper understanding of the adaptation response required to build a more climate resilient cotton sector

• Roundtable 3: Tuesday, 14 December:
  Shaping a pathway towards collaborative action for a climate resilient cotton sector

Click here to apply to participate and to find more information please see here.