The Ray C. Anderson Foundation has awarded a $650,000 grant to Emory University to advance the Georgia Climate Project, a state-wide consortium co-founded by Emory, the University of Georgia, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and joined by Agnes Scott College, Georgia Southern University, Spelman College, and the University of North Georgia.
This foundational grant will support efforts to build a network of experts who can improve understanding of climate impacts and solutions and better position Georgia to respond to a changing climate. Working with partners in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, the Georgia Climate Project recently released a 40-question Georgia Climate Research Roadmap. Planned upcoming activities include a Georgia Climate Information Portal, a collection of Georgia Climate Stories, expanded support for student-driven climate solutions, and a Georgia Climate Conference November 7-8, 2019.
“Our universities have tremendous expertise to examine and explore solutions for climate change in the State of Georgia,” says Dwight A. McBride, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Emory University. “This grant offers Georgia institutions an opportunity to leverage our shared research expertise to address one of this century’s defining challenges.”
The Georgia Climate Project is focusing on the practical risks and opportunities associated with a changing climate. “This partnership, which is generously supported by the Anderson Foundation, demonstrates the commitment of Georgia’s universities to the health and economic vitality of our state,” says University of Georgia Interim Provost Libby V. Morris.
“Climate change has been and continues to be a priority and focus for our students,” says Georgia Tech Provost Rafael L. Bras. “By engaging them we can prepare a new generation of leaders to work with partners across the state to develop innovative solutions to an incredibly difficult set of challenges.”
“In the Georgia Climate Project we see a great opportunity to continue Ray Anderson’s legacy of Georgians leading by example to create a better world for future generations,” says John Lanier, executive director of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation.
More information about the Georgia Climate Project is available at www.GeorgiaClimateProject.org.
About the Ray C. Anderson Foundation
The Ray C. Anderson Foundation was created in honor of the late Ray C. Anderson (1934-2011), founder of Interface, Inc. During his time at Interface, Ray championed the notion of businesses doing well by doing good. It’s these noble qualities of advancing knowledge and innovation around environmental stewardship and sustainability that led to Ray’s recognition as a pioneer in industrial ecology. The purpose of the Foundation is to perpetuate these shared values and continue the legacy that Ray left behind.