Research Overview

The Columbia Climate School powers innovative research in the science, consequences, and human dimensions of climate change. We are the research institution where the phrase "global warming" originated, and we unite the sciences, engineering, finance, humanities, arts, and policy to achieve a more sustainable and just world.

RESEARCH AT-A-GLANCE

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500+

PhD-level researchers

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200+

Active research projects

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25+

Transdisciplinary research centers

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$1B+

Total research sponsorship since 2013

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490+

Funding partners since 2013

Office of Research

Our Office of Research nurtures our community of established and future environmental leaders through proposal development, programmatic engagement, and compliance support.

Research Partners & Projects

Research Centers & Programs

Bringing together high-impact centers, institutes, and initiatives, we support a continuum of research, from basic discovery to societal solutions.

Research Projects

Explore our diverse Earth, climate, environmental, and sustainability research projects around the world.

Engage with Our Research Community

Student Research Opportunities

Research News

Long-Term Study Suggests Landfill Methane Emissions Are Far Higher Than Estimates
August 5, 2026

The study used continuous ground-based measurements to determine that landfill methane emissions are likely much higher than current assessments.

July Research Roundup: Select Papers
August 4, 2026

This month, we covered the 2026 Environmental Performance Index; how gas bubbles shaped Kīlauea’s lava flow; and the Pacific’s contrasting effects on wildfires. Here are some additional studies worth noting.

From Marie Tharp to Seabed 2030: Marine Geophysicist Vicki Ferrini on Mapping the Ocean Floor
July 30, 2026

In honor of Tharp’s birthday, Ferrini discusses the geologist’s pioneering work and how it paved the way for her own collaborative efforts to map the ocean floor.