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Introduction
Background: Drawdown Georgia Research
Drawdown Georgia is inspired by Project Drawdown and funded by the Ray C. Anderson Foundation (RCAF). It includes a research collaborative whose purpose is to identify the highest potential carbon mitigation strategies for the state of Georgia, while also advancing equity, promoting economic development, improving public health, and nurturing the larger environment.
The Phase 1 research effort included the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, the University of Georgia, and Georgia State University along with other local partners noted below. The effort was divided across five major categories represented by working groups: electricity, transportation, buildings & materials, food & agriculture, and land sinks. A sixth working group, beyond carbon, examined additional environmental considerations, equity, economic development, and public health across solutions. Local partner organizations working with the beyond carbon working group included the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE), Greenlink Analytics, and Southface Institute.
The Drawdown Georgia research team systematically examined more than 100 options (including those contained in Project Drawdown) for reducing state-wide carbon footprints and for developing a roadmap with 20 high-impact solutions for Georgia. This down-select process involved:
1. understanding Georgia’s baseline carbon footprint and trends.
2. identifying the universe of Georgia-specific carbonreduction solutions that could be impactful by 2030.
3. estimating the greenhouse gas reduction potential of these high-impact 2030 solutions for Georgia.
4. estimating associated costs and benefits while also considering how the solutions might impact societal priorities, such as economic development opportunities, public health, environmental benefits, and equity (see
Brown, Beasley, et al., 2021 for a description of the full methodology).
The Phase 1 research team focused special attention on identifying equity-related issues or concerns, noting: “in states like Georgia with large historical and ongoing inequities across demographic groups, this [focus on equity] is particularly important. Ideally, implementation paths should not only mitigate existing environmental injustices and institutional barriers to access solution benefits but should also go beyond that to erase those inequities” (Brown, Dwivedi, et al., 2021, p.
FIGURE 1.1: THE OUTCOME OF QUALITATIVE MULTICRITERIA ASSESSMENT FOR SELECTED ATTRIBUTES, PART OF PHASE 1 BEYOND CARBON RESEARCH
Note. “A framework for localizing global climate solutions and their carbon reduction potential,” by M.A. Brown, Puneet Dwivedi et al., 2021, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(31), (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2100008118). Copyright 2021 by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
4). The team also conducted a preliminary review across all solutions, which is summarized in Figure 1.1.
As shown in Figure 1.1, the Phase 1 research team identified several benefits across four different dimensions within the beyond carbon category. With respect to equity, identified benefits were largely centered around public health given the anticipated air quality improvements that many solutions will have when displacing fossil fuels. This preliminary work also identified several equity-related issues and themes across the solutions that may be summarized as follows:
• Barriers and opportunities to solution access, particularly given historic inequities and overall awareness (the figure highlights these concerns for several of the solutions that are the focus of the current project— rooftop solar, retrofitting, and afforestation/silvopasture). Note that the findings from the current study would change the above conservation agriculture rating from green to orange.
• Affordability, such as cost of solutions to individuals and communities— concerns relevant to the current project were identified in the figure for rooftop solar, retrofitting, electric vehicles, and afforestation/silvopasture.
• Diversity among workforce and business owners as, for example, the 2019 Solar Jobs Census found that only 26% of the solar workforce was made up of women and that 73.2% of the overall solar workforce is white. Georgia ranks below national levels in terms of diversity, as women consist of only 18.9% of the solar workforce, and 76.6% of the workforce is white (Solar Jobs Census 2019 | Solar States, n.d.). These workforce concerns highlighted at the time of the Phase 1 research were noted for three solutions that are the focus of the current project - rooftop solar, afforestation/ silvopasture, and retrofitting.
The Phase 1 research also identified promising approaches to expanding equity-related benefits and mitigating potential adverse impacts for individual solutions. This included the creation of “logic diagrams” for solutions, linking barriers and equity challenges to tools and opportunities in the ideation of a set of possible initiatives for each solution. An example is shown in Figure 1.2.
The inputs for this work came from qualitative literature reviews, stakeholder input, and expert engagement. Additional information on equity considerations for individual solutions may be found at the Drawdown Georgia website (https:// www.drawdownga.org/), Georgia Tech’s Climate and Energy Policy Laboratory (CEPL) website (https://cepl.gatech.edu/ projects/Drawdown-Georgia), and in subsequent publications such as Brown and Chapman (2021).
The purpose of this project was to extend the beyond carbon work conducted by the Phase 1 research team with a primary focus on equity opportunities, barriers, and concerns. Specifically, the project sought to incorporate the perspectives and wisdom of stakeholders with expertise in equity and stakeholder groups and communities whose voices were not yet reflected in the beyond carbon equity analyses. In addition, the expanded equity analysis was expected to inform recommendations for organizations interested in advancing equity--as well as carbon mitigation--through their implementation of Drawdown Georgia solutions.
A growing body of scholarship and practice pointing to the complex linkages between environmental quality and human equality has increased attention to equity in efforts to address climate change and build more sustainable societies (see, for example, Agyeman et al., 2003). Similarly, Project Drawdown’s “Drawdown Lift” initiative recognizes the need to “deepen collective understanding of the links between climate change solutions and poverty alleviation” (Project Drawdown, 2022). At the same time, critics still contend that equity considerations receive inadequate attention, in relation to other aspects of sustainability. For example, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, which offer the only internationally agreed-upon framework for collaboration around equitable and inclusive sustainability, have been criticized for not explicitly drawing attention to structural racism and inequities and for inadequate representation from “front-line” leaders and groups (Echoing Green, 2019). Acknowledging these gaps and critiques, the Drawdown Georgia Equity Opportunities Project sought to solicit and synthesize a broader array of Georgia “front-line” expertise regarding selected Drawdown Georgia solutions in order to support equity advancement in their implementation.
Current Project Context
As described above, the Drawdown Georgia Phase 1 collaborative effort identified the 20 highest potential carbon mitigation solutions for the state of Georgia and completed a preliminary examination of potential impacts and opportunities related to beyond carbon dimensions, including equity. In late 2020, members of the beyond carbon working group began discussing ideas for a project that would extend that group’s initial equity analyses. For the 20 solutions or a subset of them, a team would undertake additional research and stakeholder outreach to develop a more robust analysis and set of recommendations for advancing equity and addressing historic inequities in relation to the selected Drawdown Georgia solutions. The effort would result in a set of recommendations
Note. From “Rooftop solar for all: Closing the gap between the technically possible and the achievable,” by M. A. Brown, J. Hubbs et al, Energy Research & Social Science, 80 (2021), 102203, (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102203). Copyright 2021 by Energy Research & Social Science.
for actors and organizations interested in advancing the Drawdown Georgia solutions in Georgia.
RCE Greater Atlanta Engagement
The idea was further developed in consultation with members of the RCE Greater Atlanta (RCE GA). The RCE Greater Atlanta was recognized in December 2017 by the United Nations University as a Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development. RCE GA brings together universities and colleges across metro Atlanta with nonprofit, community, government, and business partners to advance sustainable development education and action with a strong equity and justice focus. Several Action Groups shape the network’s collaborative initiatives, and members in two of these groups-Advancing Justice for All (AJFA) and Business Engagement— volunteered to participate in this project (See Appendix A for a list of all RCE GA team members as well as members of the leadership team that managed the project). RCE GA engagement in this research project was intended to diversify and expand the types of expertise and perspectives engaged in examining equity implications and opportunities associated with the Drawdown Georgia solutions.
Selecting Solutions for Equity Analysis
In January 2021, the RCE GA team began meeting weekly to review the 20 solutions identified as priorities by the Phase 1 research team and examine the equity analyses completed by the Phase 1 beyond carbon team. Five equity working groups then completed additional research related to equity aspects of the solutions, with each focused on one of the five major categories. Each equity working group identified the top priority solution for additional equity analysis within their category, with the electricity and transportation groups also choosing a second, lower priority, solution. The full RCE GA team reviewed all the working group recommendations and the team decided, by consensus, that this project should prioritize expanding upon the Phase 1 equity analyses for five solutions, with two lower priority solutions, as indicated in Table 1.1. With this prioritization, the project moved forward with the aspiration that the remaining solutions would be the subject of a future, similar study.
Equity Stakeholder Identification
After identifying the above solutions, each team provided recommendations for statewide stakeholders with expertise or a vested interest in these solutions via an equity lens. To accelerate the work of stakeholder identification, team leaders contracted Garry Harris of the Center for Sustainable
Celebrating the launch of the Greater Atlanta Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE GA) in October 2018 at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. A group of RCE GA members contributed to the project resulting in this report (see Appendix A for a list of RCE GA contributors.)
Communities (CSC) to expand the set of identified stakeholders for the solutions identified as equity priorities. CSC reviewed the preliminary list developed by the RCE GA team and identified additional community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, local and state agencies, and other stakeholders with key perspectives on equity opportunities associated with the Drawdown Georgia solutions listed in Table 1.1. CSC also evaluated geographic representation of the identified stakeholders by solution, aiming to identify appropriate stakeholders for each solution across every geographic region of Georgia.
Stakeholder Engagement and Data Collection
With a preliminary list of equity stakeholders in hand, the project leadership team determined that there was a need for a stakeholder engagement and research facilitator(s) to further develop research questions, determine the type of outreach most appropriate to each solution (e.g., interviews, charettes), conduct the outreach, and collect and synthesize the data. The team developed and disseminated a Request for Proposals (see Appendix B) and interviewed eight strong candidates. The interview process revealed that it would be unlikely to find a consultant equally familiar with equity concerns and stakeholder groups associated with all five of the topic areas. As a result, the team selected two consultants to lead the research and analysis phase, with Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) leading the outreach relating to energy, buildings and materials, and transportation, and Taproot leading on food/agriculture and land sink solutions. Specifically, PSE engaged appropriate stakeholders to conduct an equity analysis for rooftop solar, building retrofitting, public transit, and, with lower priority, energy-efficient vehicles and large-scale solar; their geographic areas of focus were Greater Atlanta, Middle Georgia, and Coastal Georgia. Taproot consultants led the equity analysis for conservation agriculture, afforestation, and silvopasture, with a focus on rural regions in Georgia (and light engagement with Greater Atlanta stakeholders).
The leadership team supported both consulting teams’ outreach planning and provided opportunities for the RCE GA team to participate in further refinement of the outreach and data collection process. Taproot and PSE reviewed the written
TABLE 1.1: PRIORITIES FOR SUBSEQUENT EQUITY ANALYSIS
Electricity Transportation Food & Agriculture Buildings and Materials Land Sinks
First Choice Rooftop Solar Mass transit Conservation agriculture Retrofitting
Second Choice Large-scale solar Energy efficient vehicles NA NA Afforestation & silvopasture
NA
rationales for selecting the priority solutions, the stakeholder lists developed for the RCE GA team and CSC, and interviewed Drawdown Georgia solution authors before developing a plan of action. Each consulting team drew on its expertise and networks to further refine the list of equity stakeholders for the seven priority solutions, develop an outreach and research strategy, and prepare questions for use in interviews and focus groups. Georgia Tech team leaders worked with Marilyn Brown, Drawdown Georgia Phase 1 research project Principal Investigator and the Georgia Tech Institutional Review Board (IRB) to secure review and approval of the study (See Appendix C).
Starting in July 2021, both organizations engaged "professional" stakeholders that included staff with organizations engaged in advancing the solutions. In addition, the organizations engaged "equity" stakeholders that included change agents working in related areas as well as community members who would be impacted by solution implementation. They used a combination of focus group and individual interviews to gather data. Taproot and PSE methodologies are described in detail in the full reports that follow this introduction.
Data Synthesis and Analysis
Following completion of the draft reports in late fall 2021, the team leaders facilitated a review process designed to strengthen this report’s usefulness for a variety of target audiences. The review and revision process included feedback from the team leaders, RCAF, and Drawdown Georgia research working group leads.
Limitations of the Project
This initiative sought to extend the breadth and depth of equity considerations, analysis, and recommendations developed by the Phase 1 beyond carbon team. The equity project was viewed as a “second step” toward more fully integrating equity advancement into Drawdown Georgia solution considerations, rather than a comprehensive literature review and engagement of all equity stakeholders in the State of Georgia. This equity report provides some guideposts for community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations (small to large), government agencies (state and local), grassroots leaders, advocacy organizations, and organizations that fund these groups to advance the seven carbon reduction solutions in ways that address historic inequities and prioritize funding and programs that promote equity—particularly racial equity—as the Drawdown Georgia stakeholders work to reduce carbon in the atmosphere.
The project leadership team engaged the RCE GA volunteer team and the three consulting groups to collaborate and make decisions in ways that reflect RCE’s commitment to advancing equity and justice. While undoubtedly falling short at times, throughout the process the leadership team sought to balance engagement of a large and diverse group of collaborators with the project timeline, while also managing challenges associated with stakeholder engagement during a pandemic.
Summary of Findings
Both reports that were commissioned contain a set of findings from stakeholder data (these findings are summarized in both reports in Appendices) and recommendations based upon those findings (as well as secondarily on consultant expertise). This section provides an overall summary of themes common to both reports. Where possible, these findings also incorporate highlights from the Phase 1 beyond carbon working group and other prior work of the Drawdown Georgia research team.
A valuable contribution of these reports is the specificity of findings as they relate to each of the solutions examined. In addition to confirming the crucial importance of addressing challenges associated with systemic racism, identified by a number of studies, these reports also:
1. identify and elevate a set of tangible barriers and opportunities that can be addressed by various actors.
2. highlight the importance of meaningful engagement to identify issues of concern and stakeholder involvement in designing and activating potential interventions.
Historical Factors Limiting Solution Access
Both reports summarize many of the historical inequities that shape current barriers to solution awareness and access, including:
• solution affordability due to high upfront costs for solution adoption. This is perhaps the single most significant barrier from an equity perspective for all solutions examined in this
report. Upfront costs are often prohibitive whether they relate to the adoption of conservation agriculture practices or installation of rooftop solar panels. Financing alternatives (such as Pay as You Save discussed under recommendations) offer potential pathways but remain relatively limited for most equity stakeholders at the current time.
• financial barriers including overall income disparity across the state and along racial lines. For example, Atlanta (and
Georgia more broadly) has very high energy burden rates and some 40% of Georgia Power customers are at or below the federal poverty threshold (see Understanding Energy
Burden and its Potential Solutions for Atlanta for additional detail). These financial barriers also encompass lending practices such as redlining that have been historically discriminatory for Black homes and businesses seeking to build wealth. With the net worth of a typical white family [in the US] nearly ten times greater than that of a Black family (McIntosh et al., 2020), disparities in wealth and income influence access to carbon reduction solutions, such as rooftop solar.
• infrastructure challenges including the lack of connectivity among rural solution stakeholders, particularly for smaller
Black farmers that are the primary focus of the Taproot report. Especially in rural Georgia, limited broadband access constrains access to real-time electricity rates. Improving access would support more cost-effective energy efficiency and demand response and support access to distributed solar and other solutions that require smart devices (Brown and
Chapman, 2021). Other infrastructure challenges result from racial bias (noted below) which affects, for example, expansion of, and access to, new mass transit infrastructure.
• institutional barriers including misalignment between actual circumstances of potential solution adopters and government programs (such as USDA assistance programs for small farmers described in the Taproot report). Similarly, rooftop solar and retrofitting programs are only suitable for homes that have reasonable “shells” with insulation and minimal structural damage. While there are federal and state programs that can help with weatherization, these are often difficult to access and have qualifying challenges for many residents (see Understanding Energy Burden and its
Potential Solutions for Atlanta).
• legal barriers such as challenges associated with heirs’ property land tenure that constrains the ability of Black farmers to sustainably grow and profit from any number of farming practices. Heirs’ property status contributes to insecure land tenure, which makes it difficult for families to invest in practices that offer carbon and economic benefits, and many rural landowners have difficulty accessing affordable legal assistance (Schelhas et al., 2016). • racial bias and inequities in the areas of mass transit, retrofitting, and rooftop solar solutions, consistent with findings of Wyczalkowski et al. (2020), Brown et al. (2020), and Sunter et al. (2019). In the case of rooftop solar, racial disparities are clear, even when controlling for income.
Certainly, many of the preceding challenges also reflect historical racism and racial bias that continue to impact stakeholder circumstances to the present.
• policy barriers that render large-scale solutions more difficult to implement, particularly in under-resourced communities. Policy barriers are prominently noted in both reports. Electricity solution challenges include a lack of net metering (to advance rooftop solar) and the use of federal tax rebates to support both rooftop solar and retrofitting that are inaccessible to households without tax liabilities (Brown,
Hubbs, et al., 2021 and Brown & Chapman, 2021). In addition, while there are numerous examples of utilitysponsored programs to offer low-income households retrofitting and rooftop solar, these typically have difficulty achieving scale because they are often funded via philanthropy rather than as part of the core business (such utility programming typically does not meet ratepayer and economic tests for more direct interventions). Furthermore, non-energy benefits (safety, health, air quality, etc.) are also not generally recognized in these tests, thereby further limiting the program’s economic viability (Brown et al., 2020). As another example, limitations inherent in current food procurement and contracting policies/standards are cited as significant barriers to adopting conservation agriculture practices.
Solution Awareness
Among stakeholders consulted in this project, many offered feedback that communities across Georgia, particularly those that are under-resourced, are not well versed on the solutions themselves either overall or in terms of their specific benefits. For example, rooftop solar and residential retrofitting can have a significant impact (particularly when the two solutions are combined) not only on carbon mitigation, but also on the nonenergy benefits noted above such as air quality improvements, long-term cost reduction for residents, and potential job/ business opportunities. In other cases, such as with conservation agriculture, many farmers are aware of the benefits but may lack the resources and specific knowledge while also facing barriers such as high capital investment requirements. Sociodemographic differences in familiarity with solutions are being examined in Phase 2 by the Drawdown Georgia Research Team.
Procedural Equity
While challenging to implement effectively, co-production of research projects by stakeholders and academic scientists in all stages of research (from question development through data
collection and analysis) supports the inclusion of socio-technical perspectives by bringing diverse perspectives to the table (Sauermann et al., 2020). In the case of Drawdown Georgia, equity considerations were included in Phase 1 research via the “beyond carbon” working group noted previously, through an online survey of some 1800 Georgia residents (that included an assessment of energy burden), and RCAF-led interviews and civic dinners following the Phase 1 research launch. In addition, every academic publication sponsored by Drawdown Georgia has addressed issues of equity and inclusion. The Drawdown Georgia research team also includes academic partners who are national leaders in the field of energy and climate equity.
Nevertheless, stakeholders consulted in this project pointed to a need for more outreach and engagement on equity during the earliest stages of project design to ensure that equity is meaningfully integrated throughout the entire research initiative. Such procedural equity can help to advance a broad range of interventions and recommendations (summarized below) and can help to address many of the above barriers to solution adoption discussed in the two reports.
Given these findings, it is important to consider potential impacts on the scaling of the Drawdown Georgia solutions towards their “achievable” potential (as defined for each solution in the Phase 1 research) and beyond. While the potential may indeed be achievable, the equity-related findings in this report suggest important considerations for the “how.” For example, the ways in which carbon mitigation goals are pursued through rooftop solar and conservation agriculture will have significant impacts on whether those solutions also foster equitable transitions, rather than perpetuating historic inequities. Deep engagement of equity stakeholders is required to ensure that solution implementation in conservation agriculture and land sinks do not primarily benefit large, white-owned farms or that roof-top solar programs largely benefit wealthy homeowners who can afford the investment.
Each report provides summary recommendation tables for the solutions that were addressed. The recommendations that emerged from stakeholder input include both short-term and long-term proposals and range from specific and concrete actions to recommendations for institutional and policy change. In addition, the “Looking Ahead” sections offer suggestions for additional research and community engagement that could build upon the work of this project. This section draws on both sets of recommendations to highlight near-term opportunities suggested by the recommendations for various Drawdown Georgia partners: funders, nonprofit partners, corporate partners, policymakers, and academic partners. The section below also suggests several opportunities for incorporating equity recommendations from the Taproot and PSE reports into existing Drawdown Georgia initiatives.
Opportunities for Funders
Both equity reports include recommendations that would benefit from the engagement of funders (federal funding agencies, economic development initiatives, foundations, corporate partners, etc.) in the areas of capacity-building and programmatic support. For example, stakeholder input from rural smallholders pointed to a need for greater investment in community-based organizations and networks supporting Black farmers and state-wide and regional organizations that provide technical, logistical, legal, and financial support for conservation and regenerative farming for small and mediumsized landowners. Similarly, PSE’s recommendations include greater investment in outreach, education, and investment in communities with high energy burdens to increase homeowner, renter, and rental property owner access to programs that reduce the upfront costs of home weatherization.
The reports highlight issue-specific funding opportunities, such as bringing WiFi/broadband to rural farming communities; offering technical support and value proposition demonstrations for solution adoption targeting under-resourced individuals/ communities directly and/or via community-based organizations; advocating for specific policy changes such as net metering or weatherization programming, etc. This issue-led approach may help to align recommendations with specific funder priorities and focus areas. Another approach/opportunity would be to support existing organizations’ (e.g. Black Farmers Network, Rural Studies Institute, Partnership for Southern Equity) programs and priorities that address (or could expand to address) a broader range of equity issues. Finally, given the specificity, complexity, interconnectedness, and breadth of the equity-related issues uncovered in the two reports, there is a distinct opportunity and need for regional transformation efforts to focus on equity and climate holistically (e.g. launch a
regional Equity and Climate Institute with grant or gift funding, or infuse equity into large grant proposals such as the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines). A first step in determining direction might be to assemble an inclusive process for assessing strategies and options.
Both reports also suggest the value of further deepening equity expertise and perspectives in all Drawdown Georgia and related climate initiatives moving forward. This is an increasing expectation among stakeholders for environmental/climate programs and organizations.
Opportunities for Nonprofit Organizations and Community-Based Groups
The Taproot and PSE reports suggest engaging nonprofit organizations and networks as collaborators in several of the recommendations provided. The energy and transportation sectors include groups working on policy and programs to reduce on-peak energy demand and increased home efficiency, those advocating transit access and mobility for underserved regions, and advocacy to reshape incentives and policies that currently constrain rooftop solar adoption. In conservation agriculture and land sinks they include land trust organizations, nonprofits that support farmers engaged in organic, sustainable, and regenerative farming, and networks of Black farmers and other smallholder farmers that have been historically underserved by government programs. As these groups seek funding to support programs aligned with Drawdown Georgia solutions, they may find it useful to reference Phase 1 research results and the recommendations in the reports that follow as evidence for potential impact on carbon and equity.
Opportunities for Corporate Partners
In addition to the funding opportunities described above, corporate partners can support Drawdown Georgia solution implementation through purchasing and hiring programs and through partnerships with community-based and nonprofit organizations. There are also equity-related opportunities for the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact facilitated by the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business and comprised, as of the date of this report, of over 35 companies that are committed to achieving a just, prosperous, and sustainable transition towards net zero carbon emissions in the state of Georgia by 2050. The Compact’s planned activities include facilitating collaboration on Drawdown solution-oriented projects, catalyzing innovation, creating a community of practice, and reporting on progress. Each of these activities offers opportunities to ensure a focus on equity through a collective impact approach. For example, projects may be entirely focused on equity challenges or infused with equity-related priorities. Similarly, the innovation activity can provide opportunities for companies to engage minority-owned businesses and/or offer support for greater workforce diversification. In other recommendations, PSE refers to opportunities for engagement with different types of utilities including Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMCs) across Georgia.
Opportunities for Policy Makers
Both reports call attention to policy barriers and enablers with, for example, PSE calling for changes in legislation to enable net metering in Georgia and model legislation to help address funding needs to scale retrofitting programs. Taproot’s policy priorities include changes in USDA and other federal agency grant and loan programs to expand access to Black farmers and first-generation farmers of color, and programs to support rural landowners facing heirs’ property legal challenges.
Opportunities for Academic Partners
Academic partners can support many of the recommendations provided through the Taproot and PSE analyses. First, like corporations, institutions of higher education can support equity initiatives through purchasing and hiring. For example, expanding farm-to-institution supply chains for Georgia’s large universities can provide stable demand and even support the ability of small, Black-owned farms to secure credit (see Rhone, 2019, for details about Emory University’s program). Second, academic institutions can explore changes to existing outreach programs that would enhance equity objectives. In Taproot’s report, academic partners at Georgia’s land grant universities— Fort Valley State University and the University of Georgia—are called on to partner with Black farming and related rural cooperatives and networks to identify ways to support historically marginalized farmers and address barriers to solution adoption. Third, academic partners with law, policy, and social science expertise can collaborate with communitybased and nonprofit organizations to advance recommended policy changes, including shaping net metering and “pay as you save” energy policies to address upfront costs and split incentives. Fourth, Taproot’s recommendation of an Equity and Climate Institute recognizes the need for a center-level investment by academic institutions to support more robust and coordinated efforts in equity-centered research and community engagement across the state. Such an institute or center also could foster deep engagement and outreach with diverse equity stakeholders. As discussed above, funding organizations can collaborate with existing academic partners to design a network or center supporting the advancement of equity in climate initiatives across Georgia. Finally, other current Drawdown Georgia research activities, such as solution activation and tracking solution progress (see https://cepl.gatech.edu/projects/ Drawdown-Georgia) offer opportunities to address equity issues and challenges.
