Describe the process(es) your organization has in place to ensure that your engagement activities are consistent with your overall climate change strategy[…]Throughout the American Water footprint, consistency in messaging, strategy, and values is paramount. We completed a Materiality Assessment in 2019 that supported the Sustainability Report and focus on business strategy. The Materiality Assessment included both internal subject matter experts (SME) and external stakeholders to help make certain that overall strategy aligned with materiality and stakeholder input and was approved by the Company's Executive Leadership. Several of the material topics identified align with climate variability, energy and emissions, water infrastructure, and water use and efficiency. To provide consistency, our SMEs have been trained on conveying specific climate variability messaging related to their areas of expertise. Messaging is extended to a variety of audiences including elected officials, policy makers and regulators. We are in the process of updating our Materiality Assessment.
We communicate regularly with external stakeholders including elected officials, regulators, policy makers, trade associations, and other organizations. An example of an executive and SME that contributes to the consistency of our messaging to stakeholders is our vice president, Chief Environmental & Safety Officer who addresses topics such as, but not limited to, the sustainability of water supply and infrastructure. Consistent communications messaging includes risk and resiliency, climate variability, and other topics associated with the Company's climate strategy and ensuring that operations continue to align with the overall business strategy. As a regulated utility we operate in the best interest of our customers, improving their communities because we are there, with a concentrated focus on risk and resiliency.
The American Water Board approves the detailed budget annually which includes a breakdown of resiliency directed expenditures. The Safety, Environmental, Technology & Operations Committee of the Board directly oversees ESG matters and maintains alignment with overall operations. The committee is informed on ESG and climate variability related targets, goals, and progress.
As an additional measure to maintain messaging consistency, only SMEs and those authorized by the American Water Communications Department, are permitted to engage with and respond to elected officials, policy makers and regulators to help make certain that all public engagement messaging is consistent with the Company position and strategy.