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

August Research Roundup: Select Papers
August 27, 2026

This month, we covered a long-term analysis suggesting that landfill methane emissions may be far higher than estimated, as well as new research on unexpected trends in U.S. extreme rainfall.
Here are additional studies worth noting.

The Changing Shape of Extreme Rain in the U.S.
August 20, 2026

A recent study led by researchers at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory asks how and why the spatial footprint of extreme rainfall in the U.S. has changed since 1980.

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

A major New Jersey landfill emitted about five times more methane in 2023 than was reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.