AT&T is paying the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory to predict climate-related events that could damage the company’s infrastructure over the next 30 years.
CDP. The disclosures show that a majority of the largest U.S. companies say that climate change poses a serious threat to operations.
Scott Mair, AT&T’s president of operations, said that the model will guide decisions on whether to elevate cell sites in areas with expected flooding, or to build protections around cell towers in areas with expected higher winds.
Rather than relying on 10-day weather forecasts and historic weather trends, the company will visualize local climate-related events that could damage copper lines, fiber cable locations, cell sites and other infrastructure.
“Historically, we’ve taken into consideration where flooding might impact us. But it’s always been based on history,” Mair said.
“It’s not only about where flooding happens today, but more importantly, where it happens tomorrow. The infrastructure we put in today will last over 25 years. The more we know about what’s to come, the better options we have today.”
Source:CNBC
