The Salata Institute 2023 Year-In-Review

Research

Promoting cross-University research that advances evidence-based and real-world solutions to all aspects of the climate crisis

• Climate Research Clusters: In 2023, the Institute launched five ambitious climate research clusters. These three-year projects promise real-world climate solutions in areas including methane emissions abatement; climate adaptation in South Asia and the Gulf of Guinea; the clean energy transition; and corporate net-zero targets. In December 2023, the Institute announced a new call for climate research cluster proposals.
• Seed Grant Program: In 2023, the Institute funded 14 seed grant projects, supporting 19 faculty members, working across seven Harvard Schools on early-stage and interdisciplinary climate research.
• Harvard-MIT Electric Vehicle Initiative: In 2023, the Institute launched a new initiative with MIT to accelerate progress on public EV charging.
• Climate Research Workshops: In 2023, the Salata Institute hosted 13 climate research workshops, bringing together dozens of Harvard faculty and researchers throughout the academic year to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and spark new research.

Education and Student Engagement

Providing students with resources and opportunities that will strengthen their studies and future careers in climate and sustainability

• Salata Institute Climate and Sustainability Career Expo: In partnership with Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ Mignone Center for Career Success and Harvard Schools, the Institute hosted the first-ever University-wide career fair in climate and sustainability. Some 1,100 students – about 5% of all Harvard students – and over 60 employers registered for this event.
• Careers in Climate Action Speaker Series: In 2023, the Salata Institute launched a new speaker series bringing 12 leading climate and sustainability practitioners to campus during the Fall 2023 semester.
• Harvard Climate Internship Program: The Institute more than doubled the size of this program, funding 41 Harvard graduate students in summer internships across five continents.
• Student Organization Funding Program: In 2023, the Institute funded 14 projects involving 33 student organizations through this new program.
• COP Student Observers Program: In 2023, the Salata Institute and Harvard Project on Climate Agreements funded 15 students to attend COP28, which is the greatest number of Harvard students attending this international convening ever.
• Climate Policy Summer Internship Program: In 2023, the Institute piloted a new program in partnership with the Massachusetts State Legislature.
• Travel Grant Pilot Program: In 2023, the Institute launched a funding program to support student travel in support of academic or professional development goals.
• Committee on Climate Education: In 2023, the Salata Institute supported the Committee for Climate Education in capturing School and department climate education landscapes; analyzing both the intellectual and market justifications for new degree programs and certificate programs in climate and sustainability; building new climate education partnerships; and more.
• Student Hub: In 2023, in response to student feedback, the Salata Institute built and launched a new online hub containing funding, professional development opportunities, student events, ways to connect with student organizations, and a new climate course search tool.

Engagement

Serving as a resource and partner to the full spectrum of stakeholders wrestling with the most difficult and divisive climate questions

• COP28: Over a dozen Harvard faculty and 15 Harvard students attended COP28 in December, 2023. The Salata Institute to Reduce Global Methane Emissions hosted an official side event, spurring progress on methane emissions reductions and the Salata Institute hosted an event convening over 100 practitioners and alumni in Dubai.
• Harvard Climate Symposium and Harvard Climate Action Week: In May, 2023, the Salata Institute launched the first Harvard Climate Symposium, gathering over 600 leaders, scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders in-person and over 1,000 participants online. The event was the cornerstone of the first Harvard Climate Action Week, which comprised over a dozen events hosted by Harvard Schools and centers. Harvard Climate Action Week social and web content garnered 1.065M+ views.
• Campus and Community Events: In 2023, the Salata Institute hosted and co-hosted over 70 events on campus and virtually, bringing together thousands of students, faculty, climate practitioners and stakeholders for critical, Harvard-led discussions on climate.