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

Science for the Planet: Tackling the Invisible Threat of Nanoplastics
April 22, 2025

Beizhan Yan, an environmental geochemist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, has come up with new methods to detect and analyze tiny plastic particles to better understand their impact on human and environmental health.

Columbia Climate School’s Seed Grants Advance Interdisciplinary Research
April 18, 2025

Seven teams will pursue innovative and collaborative research to address urgent climate challenges around the world.

Science for the Planet: Creating Climate Solutions with Urban Communities
April 11, 2025

Climate School professor Sheila Foster works with frontline communities on climate adaptation strategies.