IBM Is Building A Climate Action Center In New York

IBM is building a first-of-its-kind international center in New York for developing and deploying solutions to the global climate crisis. It will also serve as a hub for New Yorkers to benefit from an evolving green economy.

The site will have a 400,000 square feet green-designed laboratory and a Research and Technology Accelerator. It will also benefit community development including 6,000 green job trainees annually, grant opportunities, academic programs, and the establishment of a Citizens’ Advisory Council.

IBM’s choice of location is due to its strong connection to New York as well as commitment to sustainability and education. This is also the state where the company produces its mainframe computers, hosts its first quantum computing plant and recently announced an investment of $20 billion to expand the technology ecosystem.

Image Credit: IBM

Over 5 years the center will contribute technology, skills training and research capabilities needed to find climate solutions. IBM says that justice and equity will be its priorities, which include:

Engaging in research efforts. IBM Researchers have contributed to workstreams around programming and are working on geospatial analytics and foundation models for climate.

IBM Sustainability Accelerator, a pro-bono social impact program applies IBM technologies to enhance and scale projects focused on populations vulnerable to environmental threats.

IBM will provide sustainability and technology skills for staff and students through programs such as IBM SkillsBuild.

The company also says that it is committed to providing AI and hybrid cloud technology to researchers, governments, institutions and others to advance climate research and create viable solutions to climate change.