What once were hundred-year extreme storms in Bangladesh could now strike the country once a decade or more due to climate change, a recent study from MIT shows.
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated places on Earth, with more than 170 million people living in an area about the size of New York state. Much of the country is made up by the huge, low-lying Ganges Delta, making it especially susceptible to flooding and extreme weather from climate change.
The study found that the “return period,” or the amount of time between these massive storms, is increasing dramatically due to climate change and that these massive storms will become more devastating, with some areas of Bangladesh potentially seeing the tide from these storms rise by more than a meter in height.
Sai Ravela, one of the study’s authors and principal research scientist for Earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences at MIT, told EcoWatch that this is a first-of-its-kind study for Bangladesh that models future climate scenarios.
The researchers used complex computer models capable of quickly simulating tens of thousands of simulations to model storm surges, tides, sea level rise and cyclones under different warming scenarios.
“The results are quite stark. No matter where you look, whichever scenario you look at. And by the by the end of the century, if you look at what a 100-year return period looks like in future climate versus present climate, you see an order of magnitude change. 100-year return periods have become 10 years,” Ravela said.
In addition to the low-lying nature of the country, Bangladesh has more than 100 polders, or low-lying land area, which were built about 60 years ago to combat coastal flooding and salinity (saltwater) intrusion into crops. But these polders might not be the best solution.
As climate change worsens, there is also an increasing overlap between the late monsoon season, which occurs between June and October, and the cyclone season. “This has never happened before,” Ravela said. “I mean, you never see cyclones in the monsoon season. Why would you?”
People wade through floodwaters in Feni, southeastern Bangladesh on Aug. 24, 2024. Sultan Mahmud Mukut / Drik / Getty Images
Because the monsoon season is worsening and lengthening, and the ocean continues to warm, the country will see these two seasons increasingly overlap.
The study also suggests that back-to-back cyclones are becoming increasingly likely.
“What’s happening is that outside the polder, where the channels and rivers are, there’s silt that’s getting deposited. So the river bed is rising, the land inside the polar is sinking. So when there’s a flooding event, there’s a huge amount of water that’s deposited,” Ravela said.
He explained that because certain pieces of infrastructure, like pumps and sluice gates, don’t have the proper capacity to operate under these storms, there’s an enormous amount of saltwater deposited, salinating the soils and threatening agriculture as a result.
“And in this comes a cyclone. And what the cyclone does is it generates an enormous amount of strong tide, and the tidal amplification takes that water much further inland because of the way the river bed is, and it deposits a whole bunch of saline water inside these polders… And the economy just upends completely. [You] go from agriculture to no agriculture after just one cyclone. It takes eight years for that salinity to leech.”
Ravela said that one of the uses for the research is to understand which policies would help the country adapt to these storms. The polders, for example, are about four to five meters, which he said is not enough to compare these storms.
“It’s a controversial point, but do you even need the polders? Are they doing any good? Why wouldn’t we just, for example, remove the poulders and let it flood?” Ravela said. “But along with that flood comes so much sediment that it makes it very appealing to grow for part of the year on it. So there are other sustainable strategies that are born out of nature-based solutions, natural wisdom… I mean it’s unbelievable how much technology we dump without really thinking through it.”
Because the salinity renders cropland unusable, like in southwest Bangladesh, many people turn to shrimp farming, Ravela said. “Everybody tries to be a shrimp farmer. But the problem with shrimp farming is it’s so capital intensive that people who own their land before doing farming — and you need large pieces of land to do shrimp farming — turn to shrimp farming, and they become indentured laborers in their own farms, because these farms are now owned by somebody outside putting in a lot of money, and then that loss of ownership is a part of their story.”
Solving creeping problems like salinization likely requires broader governmental action, like negotiating with India to allow for more freshwater to flow into Bangladesh, he said.
With so many people facing natural disasters and the loss of their land and livelihood, many are fleeing. But as one goes farther north and away from the coast, the threat of salinization diminishes, although the risk of intense storms is still present. In these middle areas, Ravela explained, people are implementing agrivoltaics, aquaculture or even going back to rice farming as the soil in certain areas, like the southwest, is leeching away salt.
Other ways Bangladesh can prepare for these storms, he said, are by embracing old ways of agriculture. “Eight months out of the year, you grow. Four months out of the year, you let it flood, and it brings a fertile soil and the water recedes, and you can live the rest. You put your house on stilts and you migrate seasonally. You can slow down the storm tide. For every kilometer, you can drop a meter. And there are other benefits from the perspective of biodiversity and conservation that also that brings in,” Ravela said.
“Insofar as extreme events are concerned [like] the episodic modification of the soil properties, I think we can have a handle on that in this vulnerable mid portion north of Gabura, but South of safe zones like Keshabpur and Jessore.”
The post 100-Year Storms Now Expected at Least Once a Decade in Bangladesh, Study Finds appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/bangladesh-extreme-weather-climate-change.html
There’s something undeniably special about wearing uniquely handcrafted, fair trade jewelry that you can know was made slowly and thoughtfully with care. Equally special is wearing an elevated set of jewelry crafted with recycled materials and sustainable processes.
Whether you’re looking for an investment piece or more affordable pieces, there are options for any budget on this list. The aesthetics of these fair trade and sustainable jewelry brands also vary, so you’ll also be able to discover an ethical brand that matches your unique style.
What is Fair Trade Jewelry?
Fair trade can both be a general term used to describe a brand’s sourcing practices — like direct relationships with artisan cooperatives, wages above local standard rates, and safe working conditions — or a third-party “Fair Trade” verification through an organization like Fair Trade Federation, Fair Trade USA, or World Fair Trade Organization. When a brand doesn’t have a certification, we verify a brand’s practices by their own published information.
In the cases where brands do go the extra mile and get a third-party verification for their fair trade practices, we’ve noted it directly in their entries.
Note that this guide includes affiliate links and partners. As always, we only feature brands that meet high standards for responsibility we love, and that we think you’ll love too!
2. Ana Luisa
Best for: affordable everyday jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Gold, Lab-Grown Diamonds, Small-Batch Production, Direct-to-Consumer
Ana Luisa creates stunning, elegant jewelry from responsibly-sourced materials including 100% recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds. The sustainable jewelry brand also produces in small batches to minimize waste.
By using a direct-to-consumer model, Ana Luisa is able to provide luxury, high-quality jewelry at accessible prices.
3. Monica Vinader
Best for: recycled demi-fine jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Woman-Founded, Recycled Silver & Gold Vermeil, Traceable Gemstones, Lab-Grown & Conflict-Free Diamonds, Supply Chain Transparency
Price Range: $85 (studs) – $2,495 (diamond ring)
British jewelry brand Monica Vinader was one of the first brands to meet the gap between fashion jewelry and fine jewelry with their “demi fine” jewelry. The women-founded brand has necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings crafted from 100% recycled sterling silver and gold vermeil, fully traceable gemstones, and lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds. Monica Vinader also launched Product Passports, taking an active effort towards full supply chain transparency.
4. WorldFinds
Best for: unique statement jewelry with a story
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Verified, Upcycled Materials, Artisan-Made
WorldFinds provides sustainable employment and just wages for hundreds of women artisans in India and Bali. These artisans handcraft both sleek metal fair trade jewelry and unique recycled Kantha pieces. WorldFinds is Verified by the Fair Trade Federation, which assesses members against fair trade principles including fair wages, safe conditions, and transparent supply chains.
Plus WorldFinds’ signature Kantha jewelry is made from upcycling materials: wood scraps from a furniture factory and locally sourced Kantha fabric remnants.
5. Astor + Orion
Best for: drop earrings and charm necklaces with symbolism
Conscious Qualities: Certified Ethical Factory, Recycled Materials, Designed for Recyclability, Repair Program
Ethical jewelry brand Astor + Orion sources their jewelry from a factory with multiple certifications ensuring worker safety, fair production practices, and responsible environmental management. Astor + Orion’s stunning jewelry is made from recycled materials and designed in a way to make it easily recyclable! Their pieces also come with a quality assurance — the brand will repair any piece within 6 months of purchase.
6. Laura Elizabeth
Best for: non-toxic jewelry in organic shapes
Conscious Qualities: Locally Sourced Recycled Metals, Woman-Owned, Fair Wages, Safe Working Conditions
Price Range: $45 – $330
Crafted from recycled metals sourced locally in LA, Laura Elizabeth creates stand-out sustainable jewelry. All of the brand’s jewelry is sourced ethically from a small, woman-owned studio in Los Angeles that ensures reasonable working hours (35 hr/week), fair wages, and safe working conditions (such as proper ventilation). Check out more on Laura Elizabeth in this post!
The jewelry is also non-toxic, free of cadmium or lead.
7. Ten Thousand Villages
Best for: giftable fair trade jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Production, Artisan-Made
Price Range: $6 – $175
Founded in 1946, Ten Thousand Villages is one of the fair trade pioneers and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the global network that verifies fair trade practices across its member organizations.
They’ve developed relationships with artisans around the world, providing valuable economic opportunities for thousands of makers in 30 countries around the world. Their marketplace has handmade necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings, along with a variety of other fair trade goods.
8. Edge of Ember
Best for: gemstone jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Gold & Silver, Artisan-Made, Ethical Production
Price Range: $49 (ear cuff) – $2,730 (diamond tennis bracelet)
Edge of Ember’s timeless jewelry is responsibly crafted by makers working in artisan groups and small-scale factories. Their delicate necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other pieces are crafted by skilled artisans in India, Hong Kong, Germany, and Thailand. The brand carries out independent social audits to ensure ethical working conditions and environmental responsibility.
Edge of Ember has a wide selection of recycled gold and silver rings, bracelets, and necklaces adorned with stunning gemstones, including many birthstone jewelry options perfect for gifting.
9. Aurate
Best for: ethical diamond fine jewelry
Conscious Qualities: 100% Recycled Gold, Lab-Grown & Conflict-Free Diamonds, Vintage Collection
Price Range: $18 (stainless steel chain) – $19,000 (diamond tennis necklace)
Responsibly-sourced quality jewelry — that’s Aurate’s promise. The jewelry brand’s sleek, timeless pieces are thoughtfully made by seventh-generation craftspeople using 100% recycled gold and lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds.
Aurate also has a curated collection of vintage fine jewelry from cocktail watches to signet rings up to 50% off.
10. SOKO
Best for: modern, minimalist artisan-made jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Above-Market Artisan Wages, Black-Owned
Price Range: $78 – $298
SOKO is an innovative Black-owned ethical jewelry brand using mobile tools to bridge the barriers for artisan entrepreneurs in Kenya. In partnership with SOKO, independent artisans can operate a “virtual factory”, earning 5x more than an average artisan workshop in their local areas.
The jewelry is made with 24K gold or silver-plated brass — an affordable metal that also happens to consist of 90% recycled content on average. Other materials include reclaimed horn and bone, locally-sourced teak wood offcuts, and ceramic beads made by a fair trade women’s collective in Kenya.
10. Raven + Lily
Best for: affordable artisan jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Verified, Artisan-Made, Women-Led
Price Range: $40 – $240
Raven + Lily is an ethical fashion and jewelry brand verified Fair Trade by the Fair Trade Federation. The women-led brand partners with artisan women around the world who use natural materials to craft both classic, elegant pieces and statement jewelry.
11. NAKIIT
Best for: one-of-a-kind, solo-handcrafted pieces
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-Order, Recycled Silver & Gold, Zero-Waste Scrap Recycling
Price Range: $21 – $485
As a small, slow-minded jewelry brand, NAKIIT’s founder + owner handcrafts each piece with intention. In fact, every piece of jewelry the brand sells is made by the founder herself!
Nearly all of NAKIIT’s ethically-made jewelry is either made-to-order or one-of-a-kind, ensuring a minimal ecological impact and the highest attention to quality.
As if we could love this brand even more, NAKIIT also sources recycled sterling silver and gold, plus recycles any remaining metal scraps or dust after production.
You May Also Want to Check Out:
Best Fair Trade Fashion Brands With Style and Heart
Affordable Ethical Fashion Brands
Consciously Curated Marketplaces for One-Stop Ethical Shopping
The post 11 Best Fair Trade and Sustainable Jewelry Brands That Shine appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
11 Best Fair Trade and Sustainable Jewelry Brands That Shine
It’s time to leave fast fashion in the dust — with one-of-a-kind designs, quality fabrics, and the assurance your dollars are supporting a more responsible fashion industry, these slow fashion brands are sure to win you over.
Before we go any further, though, I think we need to clarify what exactly slow fashion is…
What Do I Mean By “Slow Fashion?”
Slow fashion is about being more mindful and thoughtful about how clothing (and other fashion items) are being produced, how they’re being purchased, and how they’re being used/worn.
Instead of mass-producing trend-driven garments cheaply and quickly, slow fashion production is about creating a piece to last by using high-quality materials, transitional designs (i.e. they migth be contemporary but they’re not super “trendy”), and durable construction.
For individuals, slow fashion purchasing habits means buying less, but better. A slow fashion mindset is all about choosing well — it’s about picking well-made items that are built to last and also selecting pieces that fit your lifestyle and body well, to ensure they’ll not only be durable but will actually be useful for years to come.
Adopting slow fashion in your life, though, doesn’t necessarily have to mean spending money — this concept is also about slowing down to appreciate your clothes and closet. Slow fashion can mean wearing what you have as much as possible, mending and repairing worn clothing, or upcycling an even sewing your own clothes.
For more, read “What is Slow Fashion, Really?”
While slow fashion is a term that’s often used quite generally, it’s important to note that there are fast fashion brands that might have some organic or recycled clothing. Those did not make the list!
Slow fashion companies to me — and the criteria used to select brands for this guide — are brands that produce in smaller batches, make most of their pieces by hand, craft each piece with attention to detail and quality, and ideally, partner with skilled artisans, sewers, and craftspeople (who are of course fairly paid).
Now without further ado, here are our picks for…
My Top Picks for Slow Fashion Brands
To be clear: you do not need to purchase from slow fashion brands to participate in slow fashion. However, when the time comes that you want to add a new piece to your wardrobe, you probably want your dollars to go towards supporting responsible brands that are doing things better; that are producing with quality and intention.
You want to invest in pieces for the long-haul — and pieces that have a positive impact. And these slow fashion brands will help you do just that.
Note that this article features affiliate links which help us continue to run this independent site. As always, we only feature brands that meet high standards for sustainability that we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. Christy Dawn
Feminine and vintage-inspired, Christy Dawn’s dresses are a romantic’s dream. As are their sweaters, jumpsuits, pants and every other garment they sell.
Each garment is ethically sewn in Los Angeles or India by makers earning living wages, and is made with regenerative cotton grown by their partners Oshadi Collective in India, organic cotton, or deadstock fabrics.
Conscious Qualities: Eco & Regenerative Fabrics, Ethical Production
Size Range: XS – 3XL + petite sizes
Price Range: $$$