It's spring 2026, and much of Western Europe is already gripped by a heatwave. The UK, Ireland, and France have recorded record temperatures for May, and wildfires have broken out in several cities. Meanwhile, in South Asia, the situation has become even more alarming. A recent study by a team of scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, found that a "single-day heat wave" in India—typically temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius, similar to the one already recorded this year—could kill up to 3,400 people.
These are timely reminders ahead of today's World Environment Day that the climate crisis is upon us. Even more alarming, it has already begun to profoundly impact agriculture worldwide, with potentially existential consequences for the future of humanity. Extreme weather events threaten our ability to grow crops—and, as a result, jeopardize some of our most basic needs, from the food we eat to the clothes we wear.
In the agricultural sector, it's impossible to escape the relentless heat that's scorching much of the world's farmland. There's no choice but to continue working, regardless of the weather, growing crops that form the basis of industries ranging from food to fashion.
Providing shade, clean water, and regular breaks—measures mandated by the Cotton Improvement Initiative (BCI) for all certified farmers—do provide some respite, but frankly, we need long-term solutions to build climate resilience in these regions as temperatures rise year after year.
A recent report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), titled "Extreme Heat and Agriculture," estimates that in the worst-hit areas of India, the agricultural labor force could decline by 40 percent by the end of the century, significantly impacting rice production. The report also claims that agricultural workers are 35 times more likely to die from occupational exposure to high temperatures than all other sectors combined. These statistics will give you pause.
Nearly half a billion hours were lost globally due to extreme heat in 2021, affecting the health and livelihoods of more than a billion people, according to organizations.
Through our work supporting cotton farmers in more than a dozen countries, BCI has seen firsthand how climate change and increasingly frequent extreme weather events are reshaping landscapes. One particularly high-profile example occurred in 2022, when severe flooding destroyed an estimated 40 percent of the cotton crop. Ahead of the current 2026-2027 planting season, the Department of Agriculture and the Central Cotton Research Institute have urged cotton farmers to take preventative measures to protect their crops from temperatures approaching 50 degrees Celsius.
Research suggests that such weather events will occur with increasing frequency. The FAO and WMO describe extreme heat as a "risk-amplifying factor" because it can trigger a chain reaction affecting water supplies, pest infestations, biodiversity, and the potential for wildfires.
Over 50 percent of cotton-growing regions face high climate risks, potentially leading to complete crop failure. Given this reality, climate resilience must become a fundamental principle of cotton sector development if we are to combat and mitigate global warming. Not only will this ensure the future of farmers and agricultural workers, but it is also a crucial approach to ensuring the future of entire industries.
From farm to fashion
The fashion and textile sectors are a prime example of this. Despite the complexity of their supply chains, they are all built from the ground up, starting with raw material producers like cotton farmers. In this context, it's a stark reminder that climate change is shaking the very foundations of the industries that serve us all.
As a stakeholder organization working across the supply chain, BCI understands that this is not lost on our members and network of partners who regularly support our on-the-ground initiatives aimed at implementing scalable improvements in cotton growing communities.
Our current work has one primary goal: increasing the resilience of cotton farmers to the impacts of climate change, particularly rising temperatures. One of the best ways to build farmers' resilience is to take more proactive measures to restore the natural environment around them and beneath their feet. Regenerative agriculture, which underlies many of the practices we employ to support farmers, now permeates our entire system, placing the restoration of soil and local biodiversity at the forefront.
Following the latest update to our standard, which came into effect in April, BCI now oversees a regenerative standard that goes further than ever before, supporting practices that not only preserve but also enhance the natural environment on which farmers depend. Healthier soil not only retains moisture better and promotes crop resilience, but also acts as a carbon sink, similar to the world's forests, thanks to its enormous potential to capture greenhouse gases and combat climate change.
Achieving success in a climate that continues to put increasing pressure on farmers' lives is challenging, highlighting the urgency of the action needed, but more than a million cotton farmers are supporting our initiative, demonstrating their commitment to change.
Working with local partners who regularly engage with and support farming communities, adapting the application of our standard to environmental conditions, we are implementing a number of projects using regenerative farming methods to help farmers better adapt to climate change.
In collaboration with climate technology startup Planboo, BCI launched a pilot production project in India earlier this year and use of biochar on cotton farms. Using agricultural waste that would normally be burned, participating farms will produce biochar — a substance similar to charcoal that can improve soil health, simultaneously increasing its water-holding capacity and helping to store carbon in the soil for over a century. Planboo has achieved impressive results testing this solution in various agricultural conditions, enabling a closed-loop value creation from waste while improving soil health and crop sustainability.
Meanwhile, the results of a group of cotton farmers who implemented a number of regenerative practices during the last cotton season have been released. As part of this pilot project, the farmers managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54 percent compared to the regional average. BCI, in collaboration with its project partner, Indigo Ag, has developed an incentive system through which companies can directly invest in those who facilitate these changes.
The changes we are making will also create opportunities for our members to use BCI Cotton to set targets for regenerative cotton production. Their role in stimulating and promoting cotton production that protects and restores biodiversity highlights the circular nature of this process: from farms to stores and consumers, and then back to the field, thanks to vital investments in the growing number of farmers committed to protecting the environment.
The forecast for 2027 is now available, and it's projected to be the hottest year on record. This is partly due to the formation of what scientists believe is the strongest El Niño event in decades, called a Super El Niño. However, this trend is nothing new. Extreme heat doesn't fluctuate; it's not random. The last 11 years have been the warmest since records began, reflecting a clear and dangerous trend.
While the current trajectory may seem unstoppable, the consequences need not be. Opportunities exist, but farmers must be supported, financially sustained, and empowered by all of us. With the right support, they can become stewards of the environment, not the first victims of the climate crisis. A rising tide lifts all ships, so we must all rise to the challenge of protecting and stabilizing the foundations of these industries.
Lars van Doremalen is the Director of Impact at the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), where he leads the organization's work to translate sustainability commitments into measurable change on the ground. His work focuses on strengthening methods for defining, verifying, and implementing impact, ensuring that results for farmers, their livelihoods, and the environment are both credible and actionable. Working at the intersection of agriculture, data, and partnerships, Lars specializes in creating impact architectures that connect strategy, field implementation, and accountability across the value chain. His work addresses priorities such as climate, regenerative practices, and farmer livelihoods, ensuring they are informed by robust data while remaining practical and scalable for farmers. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance, consulting, and international development, he brings a systems approach to scaling more rigorous and transparent approaches to impact, firmly rooted in what works on the ground.