WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, March 19 -- The White House, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will host an event highlighting the Administration’s commitment to empower America’s communities with the information they need to prepare for the impacts of climate change. The event will include new announcements from Federal agencies, businesses, researchers, academia, and others to deploy data-driven technologies and leverage freely available open government data to build products and services that strengthen our Nation’s ability to prepare for the effects of climate change today and in the future.

The Obama Administration recognizes that even as we act to curb the carbon pollution that is driving climate change, we must also improve our ability to prepare for climate impacts that are already occurring across the country. The insights gathered from scientific data are essential to help communities and businesses better understand and manage the risks associated with climate change. The cutting-edge technologies built by American innovators and businesses must be harnessed in order to unleash the insights of science in ways that directly benefit communities on the front lines of climate change.

Over the past few years, the Obama Administration has launched a series of Open Data Initiatives, which have released troves of valuable data that were previously hard to access in areas such as energy, health, education, public safety, and global development. These data are being used by innovators, businesses, researchers, and the public to create new services and applications that benefit Americans.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 19, 5:00 P.M. ET

WHERE:  South Court Auditorium, Eisenhower Executive Office Building

WHO:         

• John Podesta, Counselor to the President
• Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Mike Boots, Acting Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality
• Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan, NOAA Administrator and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
• Dr. Ellen Stofan, NASA Chief Scientist
• Jack Dangermond, CEO of Esri  
• Rebecca Moore, Founder of Google Earth Engine
• Rachel Kyte, World Bank Group Vice President & Special Envoy for Climate Change
• Joel Dunn, Executive Director, Chesapeake Conservancy
• Denice Ross, Director of Enterprise Information, City of New Orleans
• Stephen Harper, Global Director, Environment and Energy Policy, Intel Corporation

The event will also feature remarks, presentations, and demonstrations of data-driven tools by private-sector technology companies, communities, scientists, and other climate experts.

MEDIA REGISTRATION: This event is OPEN PRESS.  Media wishing to cover this event must RSVP. Press holding White House hard passes must send their name, media outlet, phone, and email, to Email Contact, by Wednesday, March 19, at 12:00PM ET, with the subject line “CLIMATE.” Press not holding White House hard passes must include their full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, gender, country of citizenship, and current city and state of residence. All press will enter the White House at the Northwest Gate.

This event will be webcast live at http:/www.whitehouse.gov/live.

Contact:

Bina Venkataraman
Senior Advisor on Climate Change Innovation
Executive Office of the President
202-456-4314 (o)