On Friday, May 16, the fourth class of Columbia Climate School of Graduates gathered to celebrate achievements at the 2025 class ceremony. Masters in the climate and social cohort represent scholars from around the world, with equally diverse academic and professional backgrounds.
“Today, the School of Climate has sent 116 new ambassadors to carry out climate action. You are an evidence-based leader, driven by data, and deeply committed to equity,” said Alexis Abramson, dean of the School of Climate, in his opening remarks. “But you are not going alone. You move forward together.”
Although most students with a master’s degree won’t formally graduate until they complete their summer internship or peak program in August, class days represent the climax of their course work and have the opportunity to celebrate with loved ones and peers.
“When we celebrate today’s achievements with family and friends, take a moment to think about why you chose this path and this graduate program,” said Lisa Dale, director of climate and social programs. She added: “What was your reason last year? What’s your reason now? Maybe they’ve changed. The world is changing the world around us, and sometimes it’s going to be huge, and your passion for a better future is more important than ever. Let your efforts exacerbate your efforts as you move on to your leadership role,” she added.
Jeff Shaman, senior vice president of Climate School, before introducing the elected student leaders of Climate School: Rishab Jain, President of the Columbia Climate Council, Carissa O’Mimate School, Climatimate School and Climatimate and Climatimation and Climatimation and Climatimations and the Incore of Climatimations and the Incore of Climatimations and the Incore of Climatimations and the Incore of Climatimations and the Incore of Climatimations and the Incore of Climatimations and the Incormitient of Climate School, it is a pleasure to look forward to your time here to shape yourself and how to get better. ”
“We know that the future is not something we are waiting for, but something we build.”
“Just a few months ago, we started to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Although our time is over, we are already committed to a field that never stops learning, which affects most people around us and is in one of the most challenging puzzles facing society today,” said O’Donnell. “It’s time to take the lessons and experiences this year, put them into a wider community and make a wider impact. … This associate is like my classroom, just like my community. Thank you for being my greatest teacher,” she said.
Jain added: “Our biggest gain this year, we hope everyone can agree that nothing can be done in isolation. Looking around, I will see students, family, friends, faculty and staff; we are all a big and urgent part. If we ever find ourselves behind the wall, it is change around the world, letting every corner of our lives be ours, letting our peers be ours.
Class student speaker Anyieth Philip Ayuen told the audience that he was proud of his queue. “Today, we stand at the intersection of celebration and responsibility. … This moment is not only about us. It is about the future we inherit and the future we choose to create.”
“As a displaced person, I know that losing your hometown, your country, belongs to the heartache of belonging, makes tomorrow’s certainty of certainty of extreme events,” Ayuen said from his refugee experience in South Suster. But, he continued, this history will only strengthen his determination and teach him that “climate change is not only an environmental challenge; it is a crisis for mankind.”
Ah Yang said that when he looked at his classmates, he felt hopeful: “Our class in 2025 is not only witnessing these [climate] Events; we are architects of solutions; we are scientists, policy makers, entrepreneurs, consultants and advocates. We have just spent a year studying the “evil” issues of climate change and also looking at the pathways to a just and sustainable future. ”
“We know that the future is not something we are going to wait for, but something we build,” Ayuen said.
Musicians, educators and climate advocates said in the keynote that graduates in this room already know the issues needed to address climate change. “They know they need to leave fossil fuels as soon as possible. They know we need to reimagine our agricultural systems, transportation systems, waste systems, how we build things, how we develop things. They already have all these solutions,” MET said.
He said the challenges and opportunities for all climate school graduates to leave this room are no longer clear What The solution is, but how Make them a reality.
This summer, Massachusetts climate and society students will continue this task by addressing global climate challenges, from resilience programs to sustainability consultations. A student is internship with Bloomberg to support research on the transition to clean energy. Another has joined GE Vernova’s sustainability team to contribute to the company’s climate initiative. One-third are working on the New York State Bureau of Research and Development, helping to shape the energy future of New York. Through a hands-on role in the Billion Oyster Project, a student is engaging communities to participate in climate education and coastal recovery. Some of the pinnacle projects include developing programs in Governor’s climate imagination; designing green financing models for India’s circular economy solutions; and analyzing indigenous nature-to-speak a few ways, climate school graduates transform their education into meaningful actions for the future.
