“Climate change is real – the impacts are serious, and they are accelerating.” So begins Engineering Change Lab-USA’s (ECL-USA) Climate Impact Statement. The statement was borne out of the urgent need for the engineering community to step up and take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of a rapidly-changing climate.
We at Mead & Hunt are strong supporters of this mission and message. As part of the engineering community, which also includes the architecture and construction industries, we view it as our duty to contribute our skills and knowledge to aid humanity as best we can. As a firm, we have always been focused on people-first solutions. If ever there was a time and a need for sustainable, resilient, equitable, and innovative approaches that put people first, it is now.
What are we doing to help?
Climate-resilient planning and infrastructure is a necessity. We understand what’s at stake, and we’re working to help our clients and communities by:
- Incorporating resilience measures in our solutions for the long term by employing best building practices, anticipating potential future conditions, and providing flexibility to adapt to extreme conditions.
- Developing GHG emission inventories, comprehensive sustainability programs, and climate adaptation projects.
- Developing climate-related disclosures needed to support new requirements for financial tracking for our clients.
- Exploring and investing in diversity and inclusion, and striving to enhance social equity, as well as environmental and climate justice, in every aspect of our work.
What will we do moving forward?
As we work to address climate change, we will focus on the following actions:
- Incorporate environmental sustainability into our project work, with an emphasis on carbon reduction and water.
- Focus on social responsibility internally through our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) programs, and train staff on how to effectively incorporate social justice into projects.
- Look for opportunities in our existing markets to improve our communities by helping to elevate underserved communities. Also look for new opportunities to do so.
- Enact external outreach efforts, recognition, and community involvement through programs such as Mead & Hunt Cares.
- Establish and monitor relevant metrics through ESG reporting.
- Prioritize company responsibility for all actions.
Why does it matter?
From our company’s perspective, this matters to us because Mead & Hunt’s overarching goal is to enhance the quality of life for the communities we serve and the environment around us. Addressing climate change is a necessary part of protecting our environment. In addition, our culture as a firm is informed by our goal to take care of people, including those in disadvantaged communities. Addressing climate change plays a huge role in mitigating the disparate impacts it has on disadvantaged communities.
The scientific evidence in the most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) demonstrates the risks of climate change on a global scale. Unless there are immediate, large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to 1.5°C will be beyond reach. Impacts are felt nationwide and locally. For example, in my city of Madison, Wisconsin, increased rainfalls caused urban flash floods and historically high lake levels in 2018. Several years later, this has spurred flood mitigation and green infrastructure projects.
The science is clear, and we can see the ramifications in our daily lives—from severe weather events to policy changes and financial reforms to social justice, recent events highlight the urgency for addressing climate change. The engineering community must come together. Mead & Hunt is prepared to help provide a resilient, equitable future, and we urge others in our industry to do the same. So the question is: will you step up to the challenge today by signing the Climate Change Statement?
