Columbia Climate School and the Paris Climate School at Sciences Po are launching a new dual master’s program at the intersection of climate science and ecological governance. Students will spend one year in Paris and one year in New York, earning a Master of Arts in Ecological Transition, Risks and Governance from Sciences Po and a Master of Science in Climate from the Columbia Climate School.
The program combines the first dedicated climate degrees offered in the United States and in Europe to equip the next generation of climate leaders with the interdisciplinary expertise to tackle one of the defining challenges of our time. Students will draw on Columbia’s strengths in climate science, quantitative analysis and applied problem-solving and Sciences Po’s expertise in economics, law, geopolitics and risk governance of the ecological transition.
The program will welcome its first cohort in fall 2027, with admissions opening in September 2026.
A Transatlantic Academic Partnership
The new program builds on decades of academic cooperation between Columbia and Sciences Po and reflects a shared commitment to preparing students to understand climate change as both a scientific challenge and a question of policy, governance and public action.
“Climate change requires solutions that span disciplines, borders and systems,” said Alexis Abramson, dean of the Columbia Climate School. “This dual degree with Sciences Po reflects exactly the kind of collaborative, interdisciplinary education the Climate School was built for. Students will earn two world-class degrees, join two global networks and develop the skills to understand climate risks, evaluate solutions and help turn climate knowledge into action at both local and global scales. We look forward to welcoming the first cohort in 2027.”
“At a time when scientific knowledge must translate more rapidly into collective action, this dual degree represents exactly the kind of bridge we need,” said Laurence Tubiana, dean of the Paris Climate School. “By bringing together rigorous climate science and a deep understanding of governance, policy and societal transformation, Sciences Po and Columbia University are training a new generation capable of turning ambition into implementation. Climate change is a global challenge that demands global cooperation; this program embodies that spirit by connecting two major intellectual and diplomatic hubs, and by equipping future leaders to drive meaningful change at scale.”
A Two-Year Curriculum on Climate Science and Governance
Together, the two years give students the interdisciplinary range to understand climate change and design solutions to address it.
Students will begin the program in Paris and complete it in New York, graduating with both a Master of Arts and a Master of Science. The sequence is designed to give students a grounding in the policy and governance side of climate action before they deepen their training in climate science and solutions at Columbia.
In year one at Sciences Po in Paris, students will study the geopolitical, economic, legal and governance dimensions of ecological transition, with a focus on how climate decisions are shaped and carried out.
In year two at the Columbia Climate School in New York, students will study climate systems science, adaptation and mitigation pathways, justice frameworks, quantitative methods and applied problem-solving, building the technical skills to design and evaluate climate solutions.
Key Benefits for Students
- Two degrees in two years: Students will earn two master’s degrees from two renowned universities within the timeframe of a single degree.
- Two academic and professional networks: Students will study in Paris and New York, gaining access to academic and professional networks in two major centers of climate policy, finance, research and diplomacy.
- Experiential learning on both sides of the Atlantic: The program includes a practice-based curriculum featuring a Transformation Lab and practitioner seminars at Sciences Po, along with applied climate seminars, integrated case-based learning and a required capstone project at Columbia.
- Career versatility: Graduates will be equipped to help accelerate a just transition to a net-zero carbon economy and strengthen adaptation and resilience to the effects of climate change.
Graduates will be prepared for climate-related careers that require both technical expertise and an understanding of policy, governance and social systems. The dual training offered by the Climate School and Sciences Po will support career paths across international organizations, governments and regulatory bodies, multilateral development banks, think tanks, consulting and strategy firms, NGOs, research institutions and companies working on the transition to a low-carbon and resilient economy.
About the Columbia Climate School
The Columbia Climate School, launched in 2020, exists to meet the defining challenge of our time. Building on a long history of leadership in climate and Earth systems, we are the nation’s first graduate climate school. Our mission is to deepen understanding of the interconnected challenges affecting climate, Earth, and society; advance innovative and just solutions; and educate leaders who drive transformational change. Working alongside public, private and civil society partners, we’re building a more resilient, sustainable and healthy future. Learn more at climate.columbia.edu. Press contact: Francesco Fiondella, press@climate.columbia.edu
About the Paris Climate School of Sciences Po
The Paris Climate School was launched by Sciences Po on 3 July 2025. It is the eighth school of Sciences Po and the first school in the social sciences and humanities dedicated to ecological transition in Europe. Its mission is to train a new generation of decision-makers capable of transforming social, economic, and political systems in response to climate and environmental challenges. The School offers innovative, interdisciplinary programmes grounded in real-world issues. Press contact: Katell Fagon, media@sciencespo.fr
