UTK – CFACT

Sounding the Alarm: Real Estate Broker Warns UTK of New ESG Threat

More than 30 people gathered at the University of Tennessee for a guest lecture and dinner hosted by CFACT campus representatives Emma Arns and Jude Abernathy (left and middle in photo above holding flag), featuring real estate broker and accredited land consultant Stephanie Cross. Her presentation focused on how ESG-related metrics are beginning to influence the housing market, particularly through third-party “climate risk” scores assigned to residential properties. Cross explained that private organizations such as First Street Foundation are increasingly generating property-level “climate risk” scores using proprietary models. These ratings are now being integrated into major real estate platforms, influencing how [...]

Beanbags & Biodiversity: CFACT Collegians Take Aim at Invasive Species

When it comes to conservation, CFACT Collegians aren’t content to sit in a classroom and theorize—they bring the message straight to their peers in ways that are engaging, memorable, and rooted in real-world impact. That spirit was on full display as students at two major universities put their own creative spin on the “Invasive Species Round-Up” event, turning a serious ecological issue into hands-on, interactive learning. At the University of Tennessee Knoxville, collegian Jude Abernathy introduced what he dubbed the “Invasive Species Cornhole Quiz.” Interacting with over 25 students throughout the day while donning an orange hunting safety vest, Jude transformed a [...]