AT&T has launched a Climate Resiliency Community Challenge for public and private colleges and universities to work with municipalities in the southeast region of the US. They are tasked with conducting climate risk analyses using the climate datasets AT&T has developed by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) . The Climate Change Analysis Tool that was developed can be used to anticipate potential impacts of climate change on the company’s network infrastructure and business operations 30 years into the future. This climate projection data is now being made freely available.
“Not all companies and communities have access to the data they need for similar risk analysis,” said Charlene Lake, senior vice president-corporate social responsibility and chief sustainability officer at AT&T. “So, we’re happy to share the data from our work with Argonne National Laboratory.”
The southeastern region was chosen as it has experienced severe weather and hurricanes over the past few years. The Challenge will provide data and funding (up to $50,000 per project) for research projects that assess local climate risk and help boost community resiliency efforts. One team from each state in the Southeast Region – Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina – will be selected by an independent panel of non-profit climate and resiliency experts.
Suggested areas to be addressed include infrastructure, public health, emergency management, or similar fields related to community resilience. Participating universities will prepare and share a report of their findings to the communities and online, along with proposals for potential solutions.
Organizations interested in participating in the Climate Resiliency Community Challenge can download an application here. The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2019.
