ND-GAIN seeking applications for Corporate Adaptation Prize

Author: William G. Gilroy

ND-GAIN

The Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAIN) at the University of Notre Dame is accepting applications for the ND-GAIN Corporate Adaptation Prize, which recognizes organizations that have made measurable contributions in creating resilience or adaptation to climate change.

Award recipients must be either a multinational corporation or a local corporation working on a project in a country ranked below 60 on the ND-GAIN index and must include collaboration with local partners. Project applications will be judged on their measurable adaptation impact, scalability (relative within their category — multinational or local corporations) and market impact.

The judges for this year’s prize will include Stephen Cheney, retired brigadier general, USMC, and CEO of American Security Project; Amy Luers, climate change director, Skoll Global Threats Fund; Danielle Merfeld, global technology director, General Electric Corp.; Raj Rajan, RD&E vice president and global sustainability tech leader, Ecolab Inc.; and Carolyn Woo, chief executive officer and president of Catholic Relief Services.

The prize application is due Aug. 8 (Friday) and the winner(s) will be announced at Climate Week New York in September.

Applications can be submitted here.

ND-Global Adaptation Index is the world’s first nonprofit organization created to save lives and improve livelihoods in developing countries by promoting the understanding and importance of adapting to global changes brought about by climate, population shifts, urbanization and economic development. Its Country Index is the leading index showing which countries are best prepared to deal with security risks, droughts, superstorms and other disasters and is the only free and open-source index to measure a country’s vulnerability to climate change and other global forces, as well as its readiness to accept private and public sector investment in adaptation.

Decision-makers use ND-GAIN’s country-level rankings to determine how vulnerable countries are to global changes and how ready they are to adapt, thus informing strategic operational and reputational decisions regarding supply chains, policy choices, capital projects and community engagements. The index helps leaders avoid costs, manage liabilities and build resilience. ND-GAIN also informs market expansion by identifying which countries are ready for products and services that increase adaptation. Key elements of the metrics behind ND-GAIN include water, energy and transportation availability, along with economic, governance and human health factors. The index was created in consultation with world-class scientists, civil society representatives and business leaders.

Contact: Joyce Coffee, 574-807-9322, joyce.coffee.3@nd.edu