Comment Letter on NOAA’s Equitable Climate Service Delivery RFI

technologypublic comments
Written By Christopher Putney

In response to a recent request for information (RFI) on improving “equitable climate service delivery” from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), EPIC submitted joint comments and recommendations in partnership with Ristroph Law, Planning, and Research. We believe that expanding and utilizing NOAA’s considerable resources and expertise moving forward is crucial to empowering the many communities increasingly impacted by climate change and long-standing marginalization. Indeed, flooding, toxic waste, wildfires, drought, and heat are all challenges we know to be compounded by the current climate crisis—and our recommendations around improved data and climate services are intended to advance NOAA’s efforts vis-a-vis these communities moving forward. Our goals elaborated in this letter align to NOAA’s, and include:

  • Making NOAA’s climate services more accessible, understandable, usable, inclusive of the social and economic impacts of climate change

  • Building capacity and support for users of all disciplines and backgrounds, particularly historically underserved communities and Tribal communities

Read the Public Comment
Christopher Putney

Christopher leads the Technology Program’s cross-cutting technology talent and workforce initiatives. He also supports EPIC’s evolving legislative affairs work related to environmental tech and data use in government, tech capacity, and other workforce priorities. Before EPIC, he worked in Deloitte’s Government & Public Services practice doing technology modernization, human capital, and workforce strategy, communications, and change management for federal clients in the executive branch and DoD. His previous work spanned sectors and mission-driven teams, and includes roles in politics, non-profits, and academia, a small e-commerce start-up, and working for a Member of Congress. He holds degrees in Government and Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin (BA), and in Political Science, from the Graduate Center (Masters), City University of New York (CUNY). His research and teaching interests are at the intersection of democracy, race, and American political development (APD).

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