Houston, Texas, USA – The world’s leading Geo-data specialist, Fugro, has announced its support for the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), marking a significant step in global climate adaptation efforts. The initiative, co-led by the U.S. Department of State and USAID with guidance from the Office of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, aims to assist half a billion people in developing countries in adapting to climate change by 2030. Fugro’s involvement was formally announced yesterday during Climate Week NYC, reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities worldwide in the fight against climate change.
PREPARE, launched in 2022, calls upon private sector entities to play an active role in promoting climate resilience for communities at risk. By joining this coalition, Fugro commits to leveraging its expertise in Geo-data to support data-driven decision-making and technological advancements that address critical environmental challenges. The company is particularly well-positioned to contribute, given its global reach and extensive experience in working with governments, academic institutions, NGOs, and private sector partners on projects that span from coastal resilience to offshore wind biodiversity.
During the announcement at the PREPARE Call to Action to the Private Sector event, which included notable attendees such as Senior Advisor to the President John Podesta and USAID’s Chief Climate Officer Gillian Caldwell, Fugro’s Global Director for Climate and Nature, Robert Hoddenbach, presented Fugro’s commitment. This marks a major step for Fugro in its mission to build a safer, more sustainable world.
The company’s contributions to PREPARE are expected to cover a wide range of initiatives, from understanding and restoring crucial ecosystems such as seagrass meadows to creating comprehensive coastal resilience and adaptation plans tailored for nations most at risk from climate change impacts. The company also aims to enhance technological solutions that can be scaled globally, fostering offshore wind biodiversity initiatives to ensure that renewable energy growth doesn’t come at the expense of natural habitats.
“We’re proud and excited to be participating with the White House in the U.S. government’s PREPARE initiative, which is perfectly aligned with our purpose to create a safe and liveable world,” said Céline Gerson, Fugro’s Group Director for the Americas and President of Fugro USA. “By collaborating with the U.S. government and other key stakeholders, we can leverage our expertise in Geo-data and advanced technologies to accelerate delivery of scalable solutions that address the urgent needs of vulnerable communities impacted by climate change.”
Fugro’s involvement in PREPARE underscores the growing role that the private sector is taking in climate resilience and adaptation efforts, reinforcing the need for collaborative, innovative approaches to address the complex challenges posed by a changing climate. As the impacts of climate change continue to intensify, partnerships like this between government entities and private companies like Fugro are critical to driving tangible, scalable solutions that can protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems worldwide.
