Fostering collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and communities to develop innovative solutions that address extreme weather challenges and build resilient urban environments.

What is the CoLab?

The UT-City CoLab is a collaborative initiative based at the University of Texas at Austin focused on addressing climate change and its impact on urban areas. It brings together researchers, policymakers, and community members to develop innovative solutions and strategies for building climate-resilient cities.

What problems do we solve?

Data Support

Fills a void of directly supporting city data needs

Stakeholder Partnerships

UT-City research projects need stakeholder partnerships to be successful.

Department Connectivity

City data needs vary across departments. Data need to be connected to city department decision making.

Accessibility

Specific data and models are often confusing for community and staff. The goal is to make research accessible to all.

Urgency

Increase in the climate extremes; city needs to prepare for eventualities.

Disadvan-taged communities greatly challenged in “bouncing back”.

Infrastruc-ture and response plans underway.

Students interested in place-based research.

Federal grant opportunities are growing.

Featured News

Seasonal Outlook: Winter 2026

Winter is right around the corner, and the UT-City CoLab’s 2025-26 Winter Outlook offers key insights to help Austin stay ready for whatever comes. The Austin Seasonal Outlooks provide a forecast of expected seasonal weather patterns, including continued drought risks, high wildfire risks, and potential impacts on the community. This report helps residents and officials prepare for extreme heat and manage associated risks. This outlook dives into the latest climate projection

1 min read

How Heat Affects Us: Community Screening & Conversation

Heat kills more people than any other extreme weather event. To address this growing crisis, the UT–City CoLab at the Jackson School of Geoscience and Planet Texas 2050 has been advancing innovative initiatives around heat resilience. Man looking at "Average High Summer Lan Surface Temperature in Austin, Texas" map poster. One highlight was the partnership with Tapi Studios and GAVA to host the inaugural screening of the short film Una Nave Frágil (A Fragile Vessel), followed

2 min read

“The power of the UT-City CoLab lies in its ability to combine research, policy, and community engagement to create lasting climate solutions that benefit everyone.”

Zach Baumer

City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability, Chief Sustainability Officer