The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University

What The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University does

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, established in 2022 at Harvard University, is Harvard's centralized coordinating body for climate and sustainability research across all 13 of the university's schools. It operates four thematic interdisciplinary research clusters (Strengthening Communities, Harvard Methane Initiative, Climate Adaptation in South Asia, and Adaptation in the Gulf of Guinea), funds seed grants of up to $25,000 for early-stage research, runs student and faculty funding programs, and supports internships of up to $7,000 for graduate students pursuing climate policy work. The institute's portfolio also includes the Harvard Climate Brief publication, white papers, podcast and video libraries, the Climate and Sustainability Career Expo, Harvard Climate Action Week, the Climate Action Accelerator, a Visiting Scholars Program, the Harvard Climate Entrepreneurs Circle, and a Harvard-MIT Climate Policy Decision Support Tool.

The institute is governed under "The President and Fellows of Harvard College" in Massachusetts, USA, and is funded through a combination of Harvard University resources and philanthropic donations from the Salata family and other supporters; the institute does not charge for its primary programming. Its customers and stakeholders are Harvard students and faculty (primary), alumni, external climate practitioners, and government and tribal partners including Pacific Northwest tribal nations, Louisiana communities, and Cape Ann municipalities. Distribution occurs through the institute's website, the Harvard Climate Brief newsletter, climate action convenings, and direct engagement with policymakers and industry partners such as RMI and SLB.

The leadership team is led by Director James Stock, Harvard's inaugural Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability, alongside senior faculty directors including Robert Stavins (Harvard Methane Initiative), Stephen Ansolabehere (Strengthening Communities), Jody Freeman, Richard Lazarus, Carrie Jenks, Andrew Mergen, and Ari Peskoe at Harvard Law School, supplemented by pre-doctoral and doctoral research fellows at the Institute for Quantitative Social Science. The institute operates without subsidiaries, has no equity funding rounds, and is not publicly traded; it is reported as actively operating, with 51 listed employees and an expanding program footprint across U.S. regions and select international geographies.

Name

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University

Legal name

The President and Fellows of Harvard College

Website

https://salatainstitute.harvard.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, established in 2022, is Harvard University's central hub coordinating climate and sustainability research, education, funding, and convening across all 13 Harvard schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Research and Sustainability Education

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), Management Research Institutes & Doctoral (PhD/DBA) Programs (EDAHAHAO)

Keywords

• Climate research
• Sustainability studies
• Environmental policy
• Interdisciplinary research
• Climate education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Support: The institute receives philanthropic donations from supporters to fund climate research, student funding, and programmatic activities. The institute's website includes a 'Support the Institute' donation page.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Salata Institute coordinates interdisciplinary climate and sustainability research across all 13 Harvard schools, funding faculty seed grants and student internships, producing publications such as the Harvard Climate Brief and white papers, operating research clusters like the Harvard Methane Initiative and Strengthening Communities, and convening events such as Harvard Climate Action Week and the Climate and Sustainability Career Expo. It develops research tools such as the Harvard-MIT Climate Policy Decision Support Tool and the Harvard Environment and Law Data (HELD) collection, and acts as a centralized hub connecting Harvard researchers with policymakers, practitioners, and the public.

Product overview

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability is a research and education institute at Harvard University, not a traditional technology product company. Its offerings consist of research programs, publications, educational initiatives, and professional development opportunities rather than a unified software product or platform. The portfolio includes the Harvard Climate Brief and White Papers (publications), the Climate Action Accelerator (engagement platform), Climate Research Clusters (interdisciplinary research programs), Harvard Climate Internship Program and Student Funding Programs (student support), Climate and Sustainability Career Expo and Visiting Scholars Program (professional programs), Seed Grant Program and Faculty Funding Opportunities (research funding), Harvard Climate Action Week and Half-Earth Day (events), Podcast and Video Libraries (media collections), and the Harvard-MIT Climate Policy Decision Support Tool (research tool). These offerings work together to fulfill the Institute's mission of driving climate solutions through Harvard's research and expertise while preparing the next generation of climate leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Harvard Climate Brief A publication bringing Harvard expertise on climate change and sustainability to a wider audience, featuring articles on climate policy, energy, climate adaptation, justice, and law and policy. Available to subscribers and the public via the institute's website.
• Climate Action Accelerator A platform providing a credible, nonpartisan forum for discussions and progress on climate problems, engaging practitioners with climate leaders and decision-makers. Open to climate practitioners seeking engagement with Harvard's climate expertise.
• Climate Research Clusters Program Interdisciplinary research clusters addressing multiple dimensions of climate challenges, including the Strengthening Communities cluster, Harvard Methane Initiative, Climate Adaptation in South Asia, and Adaptation in the Gulf of Guinea. For Harvard faculty, researchers, and external collaborators.
• Harvard-MIT Climate Policy Decision Support Tool A decision support tool developed by Harvard and MIT to help governments evaluate domestic policy options and the benefits of joining or shaping carbon pricing coalitions. For government leaders and climate policy decision-makers.
• Climate and Sustainability Career Expo Annual career expo connecting Harvard and MIT students and alumni with employers in climate and sustainability fields, hosted in collaboration with multiple Harvard schools. For students, alumni, and employers in the climate and sustainability sector.
• Harvard Climate Action Week Annual week-long event convening climate experts, decision-makers, students, and scholars across Harvard schools and online to celebrate and accelerate climate work. For Harvard affiliates and the broader climate community.
• Visiting Scholars Program Program hosting visiting scholars to engage in climate and sustainability research at Harvard. For academic researchers, faculty, and practitioners seeking an in-residence experience at Harvard.
• Seed Grant Program Grant program supporting early-stage research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and workshops in climate change and sustainability, with awards up to $25,000. For Harvard faculty and researchers.
• Harvard Climate Internship Program A university-wide program supporting graduate students with climate policy-oriented summer internships, providing up to $7,000 in funding, mentoring, and programming with policy practitioners and Harvard faculty. For Harvard graduate students.
• Harvard Climate Entrepreneurs Circle Selective incubation program for high-potential climate ventures led by Harvard affiliates, offering coaching, legal counsel, and industry connections. For Harvard-affiliated climate startup founders.
• White Papers Research publications and policy papers from Salata Institute research clusters covering topics including EV adoption, climate adaptation, and energy policy. Available via the institute's website.
• Half-Earth Day Annual event marking the anniversary of the Half-Earth movement launch, exploring the work of naturalists and honoring biodiversity efforts. For Harvard affiliates and biodiversity advocates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 900 state, local, tribal stakeholders and researchers convened through the Strengthening Communities cluster
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026The Harvard Methane Initiative partnered with RMI to conduct a panel event at London Climate Action Week titled 'Abatement of Methane Emissions in the Oil and Gas Sector: Costs and Opportunities.' RMI is a nonprofit organization that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions. The partnership brings together academic research and industry expertise on methane emissions abatement.
• SLBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026SLB (formerly Schlumberger) participated in the Harvard Methane Initiative panel at London Climate Action Week, providing industry and technology perspective on methane emissions reduction through their Digital Sustainability Platform.
• MiQminorOthersMet during London Climate Action Week bilateral discussions on approaches to measurement and abatement of methane emissions.
• Spark Climate SolutionsminorOthersMet during London Climate Action Week bilateral discussions on approaches to measurement and abatement of methane emissions.
• Oil and Gas Decarbonisation CharterminorOthersMet during London Climate Action Week bilateral discussions on approaches to measurement and abatement of methane emissions.
• bpminorOthersMet during London Climate Action Week bilateral discussions on approaches to measurement and abatement of methane emissions.
• MIT Roosevelt ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Strengthening Communities research cluster is part of the Roosevelt Project, a collaborative effort between Harvard University and MIT examining the social, political, and economic effects of changes in energy systems on local communities and workers.
• Cape Ann Climate CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner organization collaborating with Harvard researchers on climate adaptation planning for Cape Ann, Massachusetts communities.
• TownGreen (Cape Ann)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal environmental organization partnering on Cape Ann climate resilience initiatives.
• City of GloucestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner in Cape Ann climate adaptation research and planning.
• Town of Manchester-by-the-SeacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner in Cape Ann climate adaptation research and planning.
• Harvard GSD Office for UrbanizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarvard Graduate School of Design research group conducting multi-year scenario planning design study on Cape Ann climate vulnerability.
• Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Pacific Northwest Tribes on climate adaptation barriers and needs research.
• University of Washington Climate Impacts GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Northwest coastal Tribes climate adaptation research.
• Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in research on climate adaptation policy resources for Northwest Tribes.
• Lowlander CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Louisiana on equitable energy and industrial transitions research, winning a SOLVE IT Prize for local microgrid solutions.
• Disaster Justice Network (DJN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Louisiana research on equitable energy transition.
• Harvard Law School Environmental & Energy Law Program (EELP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal Harvard partner providing legal and policy expertise for climate research clusters.
• Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in preserving federal environmental datasets through the Harvard Environment and Law Data (HELD) collection.
• Public Environmental Data PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of academic and nonprofit organizations working to preserve public access to federal environmental data.
• Harvard University Center for the Environment (HUCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated Harvard entity focused on environmental research, linked through the Salata Institute's About section.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Columbia Climate School: Columbia University's first new school in 26 years, dedicated to climate science, policy, and communications. Direct peer because it is the closest equivalent university-level climate institute offering interdisciplinary research and student pipelines.
• Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment: Stanford's coordinating institute for environmental and sustainability research. Direct peer because it plays the same cross-school convening role at a peer Ivy-equivalent university with research clusters, policy engagement, and student programming.
• Yale Program on Climate Change Communication: Yale-based research and outreach center studying public climate opinion and behavior. Direct peer because it combines climate research, public engagement, and policy impact at a peer university, and overlaps with Salata's HELD-style data preservation work.
• Princeton Climate Futures Initiative: Princeton's interdisciplinary climate research initiative spanning natural sciences, engineering, and policy. Direct peer in operating model: a coordinating body at a peer university driving cross-disciplinary climate research and convening.
• MIT Climate Project: MIT's central hub for climate research, education, and convening. Direct peer because Salata and MIT jointly developed the Climate Policy Decision Support Tool and co-lead the Roosevelt Project, mirroring Salata's cross-school coordination model.

Emerging players

• Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI): Nonpartisan nonprofit that informs policymakers and the public about climate, energy, and environmental issues. Emerging player peer because it shares Salata's policy-briefing and convening orientation, though at a smaller, more advocacy-focused scale.
• Union of Concerned Scientists: Nonprofit science advocacy organization conducting technical analysis on climate and energy. Emerging player peer because it bridges academic science and policy action in a way comparable to Salata's Climate Action Accelerator and policy brief outputs.

Broad incumbents

• Resources for the Future (RFF): Independent nonprofit research institution focused on energy, environmental, and natural resource economics and policy. Broad incumbent peer because it is a larger, more established policy research organization with overlapping climate, energy, and adaptation research focus.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization working on climate, energy, food, forests, water, and cities. Broad incumbent peer because it operates at much larger scale on climate mitigation, adaptation, and policy engagement that overlaps with Salata's research clusters.
• Brookings Institution (Climate & Energy Program): Major DC-based public policy think tank with a substantial climate and energy program. Broad incumbent peer because Salata's Director co-chairs a Brookings task force on a federal Office of Carbon Scoring, evidencing deep programmatic overlap and partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salata-institute-harvard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University