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

New Research Indicates That in the Future, Trees May Store Less Carbon Than Expected
June 12, 2026

Even as trees photosynthesize late into the year, their growth stops by mid-summer, which impacts their carbon uptake.

Geologist Folarin Kolawole Receives 2026 National Geographic Wayfinder Award
June 9, 2026

Folarin Kolawole is one of 15 recipients of this year’s National Geographic Society’s Wayfinder Award, which recognizes people whose work is expanding our understanding of the planet and helping to protect its future.

Ancient Dust Points To Retreat of West Antarctic Ice Sheet During Last Warm Period
May 26, 2026

Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet may have been far smaller during one of Earth’s most recent warm periods, according to a new study.