NARASIMHAN KASTHURI
SILICON VALLEY, APR 17
Communications Company Verizon invites applications for first Forward for Good Accelerator cohort focused on Climate Justice. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2021, with the first cohort beginning in June.
Verizon along with Infosys and Reckitt Benckiser became one of the first global companies to sign up for Amazon’s Climate Pledge that was announced in September last. Verizon has launched a climate justice accelerator cohort.
For start-ups and innovators building technology for climate justice, Verizon wants to support with funds, mentorship, education, exposure, and cutting-edge technology to help you scale.
The Verizon Forward for Good Accelerator is partnering with start-ups, industry experts, and some of the biggest names in technology to drive social innovation. The first cohort is focused on climate justice, and scaling technology-based solutions for communities disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. The selected cohorts will receive funding, mentorship, education, exposure, and features in its social impact docuseries.
While next-generation technology has become key to slowing and stopping climate change, there has been less progress to use technology to support solutions for Americans most exposed to climate risk. The company hopes with its leading edge technology and cohorts in helping communities weather the changing climate, and take steps towards climate justice together.
The cohorts are expected to provide solutions that help communities build resilience and thrive as the climate changes, especially populations with systemic challenges related to race, gender, disability, income, immigration status, or age.
US-based early-stage start-ups in the climate space and groups building technology-based solutions that support vulnerable communities in any of the following sectors, but not limited to, are encouraged to apply. Agriculture, forestry, fishing, clean tech, water waste management, transportation, mapping imaging, internet and communications technology, human health and safety, and data communications. Besides, leading-edge technology solutions like. 5G, big data, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented/Virtual Reality, and others can play a role in creating more just outcomes in climate mitigation (slowing and stopping climate change) as well as climate adaptation (surviving and thriving as the climate changes). Technology solutions targeting the US and developed world are also in the agenda
There are plenty of sectors that impact climate justice like clean tech, agriculture, transportation, and manufacturing are only a few, according to Verizon accelerator, Alley. The Verizon Forward for Good Accelerator is an ongoing initiative to support start-ups that use leading-edge technology like 5G and MEC to advance early-stage solutions across Big Data, AI, XR, and any other disruptive technologies that have the power to address pressing societal challenges.
Start-ups can submit proposals for the 16-week cohort which will begin in June. The last date is April 30. Details can be had from www.verizonforwardforgood.com
Verizon has been active on the green initiative and renewable energy fronts. On Earth Day last year, Verizon announced that it would go carbon neutral by 2035 in terms of all sources of emissions owned or controlled by Verizon and all sources of emissions purchased by Verizon. It’s also looking to source or generate renewable energy that’s equivalent to 50 per cent of its total annual electricity consumption by 2024.
Amazon and Global Optimism co-founded The Climate Pledge to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change 10 years ahead of schedule. The Paris Agreement has targeted 2050 while the Climate Pledge has set a goal of being carbon neutral by 2040.
(Narasimhan Kasthuri is former Senior Correspondent, THE HINDU)
