Environmental degradation and climate change are among the largest social challenges incident to our civilization. Wharton has elevated the study of the role of business in providing solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss to a top priority. Through the Wharton Climate Center, a central component of Wharton’s new Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Initiative, the School brings together stakeholders from academia, government, communities, and the private sector to conduct academically rigorous, practically relevant research on topics such as climate change, renewable energy, air and water pollution, waste disposal, biodiversity, and deforestation. Our core research areas include how climate risk impacts business strategy and financial markets, how environmental policies and markets transform the energy and transportation sectors across countries at different stages of economic development, and climate and environmental ethics.

The Wharton School is dedicated to developing climate leaders in several important ways:

World-Class Research: Wharton has unique research strengths at the intersection of climate, finance, economics, regulation, governance, and business ethics among others. There is a large, growing and vibrant community of faculty working on impactful climate research. We will continue to build on our academic research strengths to cement our reputation as a global thought leader on climate issues.

Curricular Innovation: By ensuring that all Wharton students have the chance to learn about climate change, and expanding course offerings, the school is ensuring that graduates enter their professional careers with an understanding of the risks of climate inaction. Wharton students can now graduate with a concentration or major in Business, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, and climate change related topics have been incorporated into several core classes at the undergraduate and MBA levels.

Extra-Curricular Innovation: Wharton provides additional resources and programs for students who desire to explore their climate interests outside of the classroom. These include and will include climate fellows programs, environmental consulting opportunities, climate ventures projects, and mentoring programs with climate alumni, to help students launch careers as climate leaders.

External Engagement: We teach audiences from the private and public sectors how to extract actionable insights from our faculty’s climate research. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors for business-related Executive Education programs are soon to be launched, and our various outward-facing conferences and workshops will bring together decision makers from industry, government with Wharton faculty, students, and alumni.