Since 1970, Earth Day has served as an annual reminder to evaluate how society can improve the world around us. It is a critical conversation, especially as we enter a new era of policy and action regarding climate and the transition to a net-zero economy. It is also a conversation that will help shape the future of our environment for generations to come.
The steady rise in climate-related natural disasters has affected millions, but for communities who have been historically underserved, particularly communities of color, the impacts can be long-term and far reaching, and in grave cases, deadly.
Debris from storms on the roads or icy streets mean that public transportation is halted, and roadways are nearly impassable. For those with low-income or hourly jobs, this means difficulty reaching work, leading to reduced hours or unpaid time off.
Many times, communities never recover financially, physically and emotionally from the toll of natural disasters. Earth Day – and every day – is a chance for AT&T to commit to creating positive environmental outcomes that benefit all of us.
One tool AT&T has developed is the Climate Change Analysis Tool (CCAT), which we announced would be expanded to the entire contiguous U.S. to help us better anticipate, prepare for and adapt to the changing climate. Developed with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, the tool helps us visualize how climate change will affect our network and operations at the neighborhood level and up to 30 years into the future. We’ve made the rich climate datasets powering our tool available to the public so others can assess their vulnerability and build resilience – which could be particularly helpful in low-income and underserved areas impacted the most.
To put it plainly, we are working to get ahead of the devastation climate-related disasters wreak. At the same time, we are focused on mitigating the impact of climate change overall through investments in the future of clean energy.
We understand that the transition to clean energy is not just good for the planet. It’s also a major source of job creation as one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S., employing over 3 million Americans in 2019. However, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, women and people of color only make up 31% and 25% of the wind energy workforce, respectively. These numbers may be surprising to some but reflect a larger issue in our society.
Improving the environment where we live and work has been a central focus of AT&T, as has supporting a diverse and equitable workforce. That’s why we are happy to announce a total contribution of $20,000 in scholarships focused on individuals traditionally underrepresented in the wind workforce, including women and people of color. The scholarships will be awarded to students interested in pursuing a career in wind turbine technology at High Plains Technology Center in Oklahoma through AT&T’s Renewable Energy Scholarship and Duke Energy Renewables Wind Energy Scholarship programs.
This investment and collaboration with Duke Energy Renewables are just one part of how AT&T is dedicating resources to empower communities who have historically been left out of economic opportunities. Since 2008, AT&T has committed $600 million through AT&T Aspire and has leveraged technology, relationships and social innovation to help give people – regardless of background– the opportunity to succeed.
I look forward to seeing how these investments make a difference in hiring, training and retaining women and racial and ethnic minority professionals in renewable energy as we celebrate their achievements in helping our planet for years to come.
