About - The Salata Institute

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability

The mission of the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability is to develop and promote durable, effective, and equitable solutions to the climate change challenges confronting humanity. The institute serves as a fulcrum for collaboration across Harvard’s many areas of expertise. Together, we pursue practical, real-world solutions that address all aspects of the climate crisis and engage directly with governments, businesses, NGOs, and communities to collaboratively implement them. Funding Policy – Central to the Institute’s mission is moving our economy away from fossil fuels to one that is based on sustainable clean energy sources. If we can’t accomplish that goal globally, all the other climate challenges we face become worse. The Salata Institute will not accept funds from, or partner with, any company that does not share the goal of moving our global economy away from fossil fuels.

Floor view of an educational building at Harvard.

INITIATIVES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

THE SALATA INSTITUTE FOR CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY

The gift that made the institute possible

“Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. It is a crisis whose impact will affect our children and many generations to come, and we have a responsibility to them to do everything we can to address it” – Melanie and Jean Salata

Our Impact

In just its second year, the Salata Institute is changing how Harvard is addressing the climate crisis. Read the most recent Salata Institute impact report here.

Harvard Climate Action Week 2025

Harvard Climate Action Week invites climate experts, leaders, and stakeholders to come together and explore solutions to the most complex and challenging dimensions of the climate crisis. Events, in-person and online, dive deep into the policies, private actions, and leadership needed to drive further reductions in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

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Climate Research Clusters

Research projects represent interdisciplinary efforts to take on climate problems that are narrow enough to ensure concrete solutions, but broad enough to ensure significant progress in meeting the world’s climate challenge.

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Floor view of two science students in a laboratory.

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

THE SALATA INSTITUTE FOR CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY

The Climate Action Accelerator

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The Climate Action Accelerator will serve as a resource and partner to the full spectrum of stakeholders wrestling with the most difficult and divisive climate questions, building consensus for climate solutions grounded in Harvard’s research and expertise.

The Accelerator will identify critical climate problems, home in on promising solutions, and convene the full spectrum of stakeholders who have the authority and the resources to act. It will be nonpartisan, agile in dealing with emerging issues, and trusted by stakeholders to facilitate dialogue on high-stakes and sensitive topics.