Lisa Sachs
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Beyond Net-Zero Targets: Lisa Sachs on Designing Systems for Decarbonization
Sachs, director of Columbia’s Center on Sustainable Investment, argues that durable climate progress begins with systems diagnosis, not isolated technologies, targets or promises.
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How Do We Make COP32 Deliver on Climate Goals?
As COP31 and COP32 approach, a Climate Week panel brought together climate leaders to discuss how the world can turn Paris promises into action.
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How Ethiopia Can Make COP32 the Summit That Actually Delivers
Lisa Sachs believes Ethiopia and the African Union can make the 2027 COP more effective by focusing on scalable plans for energy systems, finance reform, food security and nature restoration.
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The Paradox of AI and Climate
AI is a two-sided coin, with tremendous potential to benefit the environment while also requiring an immense amount of water and energy. How will these two opposing dynamics balance out—or can they?
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Congratulations to the 2026 Graduates of the Columbia Climate School
On May 15, M.A. in Climate and Society and M.S. in Climate Finance students gathered to celebrate their accomplishments.
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Climate Finance Has Failed Africa Twice Over. Here’s How To Fix It.
Credit-rating methodologies must stop treating poverty as a self-fulfilling proxy for default risk.
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Columbia Climate School Experts on What Gives Them Hope in 2026
2025 was a tough year for climate action. Yet our experts see signs of progress on the horizon, and climate solutions within reach.
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Science for the Planet: Financing Sustainable Development
Meet Lisa Sachs—a lawyer who specializes in how public and private investment can help achieve environmental, social and economic goals.
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Climate Finance Student Chimi Dorji Hopes to Represent the Global South on the World Stage
A recipient of the Stanley Park Climate Finance Scholarship, Chimi Dorji has spent the last seven years working on climate action, environmental conservation and community development in Bhutan.

COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More
