Current Projects
Completed Projects
Carbon Catalogue is the world's first interactive data visualization tool of product carbon footprints, displaying carbon footprints of various consumer products. 886 products made by 145 companies from 28 countries were analyzed through voluntary submission of companies' data to CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project). The wheel-like tool breaks down the carbon footprint of products during their entire life cycle from raw material to later downstream phases. Companies' improvements in reducing product emissions are also displayed such as instituting sustainable practices, replacing fossil fuels with bioenergy, and lowering energy consumptions of computers.
Funded by: CoClear (Columbia University start-up)
Other partners: CoClear, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
The project assesses the effectiveness of Enel X's Sustainability Boosting Program®, a quantitative methodology and innovation process to identify and develop sustainability opportunities applicable to products and services to make them more circular, inclusive, and biodiversity-friendly. Furthermore, the research provides guidelines on how to apply the methodology to other divisions of Enel Group through conducting an in-depth review and benchmarking of underlying metric system and internal stakeholder management processes.
Funded by: Enel X Global Retail
Other partners: Enel Group
The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) and the Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management jointly review the Institute’s Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) training program. The project aims to advance collective understanding of sustainability training in the Chinese cultural context. The review primarily focuses on the training program's existing approach of relying on the leadership and advocacy of trainees to drive EHS changes on the factory floor. Additionally, it aims to identify metrics and tools that could be used to assess the effectiveness of the program for participants and on the factory floor.
Funded by: Institute for Sustainable Communities
The 'Research and Development of Sustainability Education in China' study aims to understand the optimal pedagogical experiences and/or training methods that may encourage individuals to understand, adopt, and apply sustainability principles, and influence behaviors in China. The project identifies existing models of environmental education and their relevant content to suggest feasible delivery methods most appropriate and conducive for both youth and adult learning. Based on the findings from this research phase, the Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management designs systematic learning modules for middle school and high school students, and explores different methods to accelerate the development of sustainability education in China.
Funded by: Tencent Foundation
The project, a 3-day in-person conference, aims to facilitate collaboration between local stakeholders, including policymakers, vulnerable communities, NGOs and think tanks, and one of Brazil's main energy providers. The goal of the project was to create direct lines of communication, set to map out adaptation and resilience solutions, as well as climate awareness collaborations in the Niterói and Rio de Janeiro regions. The event highlighted two SDGs: Sustainable Cities and Communities; Climate Action. Click here to read more about the project.
Funded by: Columbia Global Center Rio de Janeiro
Other partners: Enel Brasil, Enel Rio