News & Impact Stories at Columbia SPS

New Sustainability Management Field Course: Green Industrial Policy in Zhejiang, China

Sustainability Management professors Steven Cohen, Satyajit Bose, and Guo Dong discuss a new course that brings students to Zhejiang, China, to explore the country’s clean energy economy.

War on wind power will jeopardize our energy future and cost Americans billions

Steven Cohen, Director of the Columbia University Sustainability Management program at SPS, was quoted in a recent Los Angeles Times column examining the future of wind power and renewable energy policy in the United States. (LA Times)

The Joy and Promise of Graduation Season

Graduation season is a powerful celebration of perseverance, community, and lifelong learning.

Connecting Habitats, From New York to South Africa

Wendy Hapgood, Sustainability Management lecturer and cofounder of the Wild Tomorrow Fund, shares her story of leaving corporate work to build a major protected area for wildlife.

Legitimizing New York City’s Street Vendors and Governing for all New Yorkers

NYC should reform street vendor licensing and enforcement to create fair inclusive governance for businesses and residents.

The Last Class That Needed To Code Just Graduated

Kiran Bhujle, Global Managing Director at SVAM International and part-time lecturer in M.S. in Enterprise Risk Management and M.S. Technology Management programs, explores how AI is reshaping who gets to build technology. (Forbes)

A New Framework for Future Leaders: Redefining Fundraising as Strategy

In Columbia’s Nonprofit Management program, lecturers Ramone Segree and John Hicks share real-world insights on building impactful careers in today’s evolving nonprofit sector.

Destroying the U.S. Forest Service Imperils America’s Forests

Cuts to the U.S. Forest Service weaken science, staffing, and oversight, leaving forests more vulnerable to harm and misuse.

How AI and Emerging Technologies Are Shaping Business Transformation

At the 2026 Technology Management Trends event, Deloitte leaders and SPS faculty examined what it takes to scale AI across industries—and where real value is being realized today.

New York City’s Trees Grow on Money

Investing in New York City’s trees would improve health, reduce energy costs, help manage stormwater, and boost property values.

From Principles to Practice: Operationalizing Responsible AI

IKNS lecturers Nicole Alexander and Manail Anis Ahmed offer expert guidance for integrating AI both ethically and responsibly across an entire enterprise.

Modernizing Waste Management in New York City

Modernizing New York City’s waste management will require shifting toward technology-driven systems to reduce costs and impact.