This Top Business School Is Collaborating on a Climate Finance Master’s Degree
Credit: DANIEL LEAL / AFP / Getty Images)- Columbia Climate School announced what it’s calling the United States’ first master’s degree in climate finance to launch in fall 2025.
- The one-year degree is a cross-university collaboration with the M7 Columbia Business School.
- Business degrees are increasingly cross-university efforts, with programs offering more courses covering science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
A new master’s program will help students prepare for the economic impacts of global climate change, a field of increasing interest among business schools and students.
The Columbia Climate School announced what it’s calling the United States’ first master’s degree in climate finance, which will launch in fall 2025.
The program will feature courses in climate science and mitigation strategies, as well as capital markets and infrastructure financing to prepare students to lead in a rapidly changing climate landscape.
The one-year program is a cross-university collaboration with the Columbia Business School, one of the high-power magic or magnificent (M7) business schools in the U.S.
“The world needs problem solvers to address the global climate crisis,” Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson said in a press release.
“Everyone at the Climate School is committed to developing solutions, and bringing together fields like climate and finance as a multidisciplinary approach is pivotal, as we need all hands on deck to respond to this urgent global challenge.”
The new degree is rolling out during uncertainty around climate change funding in the U.S.
The Trump administration’s federal funding freeze — currently on pause in federal courts — could mean organizations and communities may have to tackle sustainability without federal assistance.
January was the warmest month on record across the globe despite cold temperatures in the U.S., scientists say. Climate change could create disruptions in myriad forms, with rising sea levels threatening communities and extreme weather affecting crop production.
Program Director Lisa Sachs, an associate professor and director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, said the degree will prepare students for jobs in the field.
“There is a real demand in business and finance for practitioners who understand climate variability, climate risk, the difference between mitigation and adaptation, and emerging investment opportunities,” Sachs said in the release.
“And there is a global demand for graduates who understand the challenges of climate finance and have the expertise to close the financing gaps.”
Sustainability Key in Business Education
The degree comes amid global student interest in sustainability education.
Responsible management, ethical leadership, and global challenges like climate change all saw a roughly 70% selection by prospective students as high value content in the 2025 Tomorrow’s MBA report from the consulting firm CarringtonCrisp.
In past iterations of the Tomorrow’s MBA, climate change and sustainability have scored at the top of students’ interest. Master of business administration (MBA) students from top business schools around the globe have also stepped up outside the classroom, signing a pledge to combat climate change professionally.
Business schools have rolled out climate-focused degrees and initiatives in recent years in response to industry demand.
The new Columbia degree also reflects another key trend in business education.
Whether it’s dealing with sustainability or other emerging topics like artificial intelligence (AI) and financial technology (fintech), business degrees are increasingly cross-university efforts. And these programs are offering more content related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Climate School Senior Vice Dean Jeff Shaman said in the release that cross-university collaboration is key to giving students a well-rounded understanding of the climate field.
“By collaborating with the business school, we are able to provide students with not just a foundation in core climate science but also fundamental business acumen,” Shaman said.
“It will equip students with the financial decision-making skills needed to respond to the climate crisis.”
Columbia Business School Dean Costis Maglaras said interdisciplinary education is the key to addressing climate change.
“Climate change is going to impact every sector and all aspects of our lives,” Maglaras said in the release. “Only by combining ideas from climate science and finance can we address these challenges.”