Student Groups

Women & Sustainability (W&S) is a group that was established by the Earth Institute’s M.S. in Sustainability Management Program. The group strives to advance female leaders working in sustainability through academic, professional, and personal development. W&S also looks to develop a community of women that will act as a support network, providing encouragement and fostering growth.

Events to date have included topics on corporate sustainability, nonprofit and NGO sector initiatives in sustainability, impact investing, and general professional development workshops.

Visit the Women & Sustainability website

SUMASA is the Student Association for the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program at Columbia University. Co-sponsored by the Earth Institute and the School of Continuing Education, this professional graduate program is designed to equip sustainability leaders with the practical knowledge and cutting-edge skills required to effectively manage the complex opportunities and risks of sustainable development.

Email: [email protected]

Visit the SUMASA website

The School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) Environmental Coalition (ECO) is a graduate student and alumni organization dedicated to elevating the most pressing global and local environmental policy challenges of our time. ECO raises awareness by offering skills-based trainings, hosting educational and social activities, and providing opportunities for advocacy through collaboration. Our goal is to spur action and engage the Columbia community in dialogues that highlight the linkages among our fields.

Visit the SIPA Environmental Coalition website

The SIPA Energy Association (SEA) is one of the largest student organizations at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. We are dedicated to building relationships among SIPA students and energy sector practitioners in the field.

Working with partner organizations across the private, public and nonprofit sectors, SEA aims to educate SIPA students about professional opportunities in energy and to foster information-sharing that complements SIPA's Energy and Environment concentration.

SEA's diverse membership brings a variety of professional backgrounds to the organization. Our student members are enrolled in a number of Columbia University programs and SIPA concentrations, including energy, finance, environmental policy, development, sustainability and security. SEA's members look forward to careers in fields that will directly impact the world's energy future.

Email: [email protected]

Visit the SIPA Energy Association website

The Green Business Club (GBC) is a professional student organization at Columbia Business School. It serves member students by providing educational and career development resources focused on a wide range of sustainable business industries. Its membership has extensive experience working in renewable energy, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, and sustainable consumer goods. It strives to create a network for like-minded individuals in its community to share knowledge and facilitate career building.

Visit the Green Business Club website

CUCSD aims to embrace the collective strength of students and professionals across campus to increase sustainability awareness and sustainable development impact, within Columbia University, locally and in the world at large.

By attending high-level forums, our members represent CUCSD in multilateral negotiations, share their work with field experts in sustainable development, mobilize their peers in impacting international policy, and apply their experience in their academic and professional work. In addition, they disseminate information on the work and innovations of Columbia University. 

CUCSD was officially recognized by the Columbia University Interschool Governing Board in March 2012.

Visit the CUCSD website

Columbia Law School’s Environmental Law Society (ELS) is an organization for students who are concerned about environmental issues and/or are interested in environmental careers.

The group actively advocates for the curriculum to include environmental subjects, and its members promote environmental efforts at the Law School. ELS hosts events with top environmental practitioners from the government, public interest groups, and private law firms. These gatherings include panel discussions and informal lunches.

In addition, ELS also hosts large-scale events. These include an Earth Day celebration and outdoor events such as hiking trips, park clean-ups, and tree-planting.

ELS welcomes all interested and new students, and the organization offers an ample opportunity to become involved at any level.

Email: [email protected]

Visit the Columbia Law School Environmental Law Society website

We are a student-edited journal for environmental law scholarship.  We publish articles by scholars, practitioners, and students, as well as short-form online content.

Visit the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law website

The EcoReps are Columbia’s student-run environmental group. The EcoReps work to make this campus greener and more sustainable in a number of ways.

Email: [email protected]

Visit the Columbia EcoReps website

EcoLions is a club at Columbia University devoted to the sustainability of Columbia University Athletics. 

Email: [email protected]

The Columbia Aquanauts is an interdisciplinary group of students at Columbia University that share a common goal of creating sustainable solutions for global water resource management. We aim to achieve this goal through mentored research groups and community activism supplemented by campus events, guest speakers, and various partnerships with external organizations as well as other student groups.

Visit the Columbia Aquanauts website

The first club within the School of Professional Studies (SPS) to focus solely on sustainability in the built environment. Our goal is to foster discussions on building sustainable design and to become a resource for innovative, and impactful advances in the field.

Email: [email protected]