It began in 2018 with a simple idea: business schools weren’t doing enough to prepare MBA students for the climate-related challenges and opportunities awaiting them. Since then, ClimateCAP has evolved into a multifaceted effort to integrate climate literacy into every aspect of business education. Today, it encompasses an annual summit hosted by rotating top-tier business schools, a competitive yearlong fellowship program, a virtual MBA Academy, a global educator network, and student-led climate-focused communities.

Reflecting on her fellowship experience, former student Kelsey Niehoff, emphasized how the program helped shape her approach to environmental challenges, “The ClimateCAP workshops underscored the importance of adaptability when addressing environmental challenges in the workplace. Many sessions demonstrated how a problem may initially present one way, but as new insights emerge, the path to a sustainable solution often evolves. Remaining agile and open to iteration has allowed me to pursue more effective, best-fit solutions.” She also highlighted the real-world value of a personal ClimateCAP project saying she “honed the critical skill of raising awareness around a problem and advocating for a solution…This experience taught me that education and storytelling are powerful tools for building transparency and driving buy-in for change.”

Beyond the summit and the fellowship, ClimateCAP sustains momentum through its MBA Academy. This virtual speaker series covers topics such as net-zero strategies, the CFO’s role in climate, and climate entrepreneurship. Additionally, ClimateCAP supports momentum through ClimateCONNECT, informal meetups organized around interest areas including food and agriculture, climate finance, and public-private partnerships. These virtual and student-driven elements ensure that the conversation about climate in business isn’t limited to once a year, but continues in classrooms and clubs around the world.

Faculty are also a key part of ClimateCAP’s ecosystem. Nearly 50 business schools are now part of its educator network, which facilitates cross-school collaboration on climate curriculum. This collective helps business school faculty become aware of resources  like Columbia’s Open Climate Curriculum and Harvard’s “Climate Rising” podcast. Educators regularly join virtual roundtables, sharing course materials, best practices, and case studies to accelerate climate integration across MBA programs.

This summer, ClimateCAP is launching yet another program, ClimateCATALYST. The free, three-day virtual bootcamp is open to incoming and current MBAs from any school, aiming to give students a head start on climate fluency before they even set foot in their first business class. Organizers expect more than 250 students to attend, creating new connections and insights that will enrich the broader ClimateCAP network.

And the network keeps growing. Over 2,000 students have attended summits since 2018, and the 2026 ClimateCAP Summit will be hosted at MIT Sloan, continuing the tradition of rotating among top institutions. For Katie Kross, Managing Director of Duke’s EDGE Center and co-founder of ClimateCAP, the momentum is only just beginning.

“We want to empower MBAs to see climate not as a niche career path, but as a lens through which they can lead in any function or industry,” she explained. “ClimateCAP is about creating leaders who understand that climate isn’t just about risk, it’s about opportunity, innovation, and long-term value.”

As one MBA attendee reflected after the 2025 summit, “Hope is a discipline.” Through ClimateCAP’s immersive programs and collaborative approach, today’s business students are cultivating that hope and turning it into action. Whether they’re working in consulting, finance, operations, or launching startups, the next generation of leaders isn’t just ready to adapt to a changing world—they’re prepared to lead it.

The post Future-Proofing Business: ClimateCAP’s Rise from Summit to Global Leadership Platform appeared first on Second Nature.

The event, which took place a few blocks from the White House, provided a welcome contrast to the barrage of presidential executive orders that have deprioritized clean energy solutions and proposed to slash federal funding for key climate programs, such as those in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which provided critical support for the higher educations sector’s efforts to accelerate impactful climate action.

The 2025 Summit created a much-needed and timely space to garner the sector’s collective and complementary strengths, resources, and expertise, celebrate examples of impactful and equitable climate action, and challenge our sector to practice rigorous honesty to address the challenges that will continue to unfold in the months and years ahead.

As part of the effort to celebrate impactful climate action across the sector, Second Nature’s inaugural Climate Luminary Honors recognized six member institutions for their exemplary climate action efforts across five distinct categories: decarbonization, justice, community, workforce, and research, along with special recognition for Climate Resiliency in Action. The honorees include Carleton College, Emory University, University of Pittsburgh, Central Community College, University of Toronto, and Warren Wilson College, all demonstrating higher education’s essential role in driving sustainability, equity, and resilience.

While federal rollbacks of climate programs and the overarching current political space were topics of discussion during the 2025 Summit, the prevailing “climate” of the Summit was a call to action for changemakers in the higher education sector.

The programming, plenaries, and peer-to-peer discussions surfaced the urgent need for aggressively expanding the very definition of climate action, calling the sector to engage in subnational advocacy to defend and protect the work already accomplished and continue what remains to be done to create clean-energy solutions to safeguard our planet and our communities (especially those disproportionately impacted by climate change and toxic pollution). 

This call to action was clearly and passionately articulated by the speakers in the opening plenary, a panel of committed student climate activist leaders in the closing plenary, and throughout the Summit.

Learn more about the 2025 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit and Second Nature:

• View the complete Summit agenda with over 70 sessions and over 150 speakers
• Meet awardees of our inaugural Climate Luminary Honors initiative
• Learn more about becoming a member of our Climate Leadership Network
• Sign up for our monthly newsletters to get the latest climate action and policy updates
• Read coverage of the Summit in The Hechinger Report

The post A Call to Action at the 2025 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit appeared first on Second Nature.

From May 28th to June 3rd, Cami Sockow and I traveled to the beautiful ahupuaʻa of Waikīkī in Honolulu to attend the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity (NCORE). Our friend and colleague, Makerusa Porotesano (Mak), who has been engaged with Second Nature since 2021, is an original member of the Intersectional Climate Action Leaders Working Group and has presented during our last two Higher Education Climate Leadership Summits, generously offered this opportunity. Mak, a core leader at NCORE, has significantly enhanced our understanding and programming, particularly concerning Pacific Islanders.

On May 29th, Cami and I presented a session titled “A Second Nature Case Study: Progressing DEIAJ Work and Ethic While Serving Higher Education.” We aimed to contextualize our work at Second Nature, discuss affinity-based programming, foster difficult conversations, and differentiate internal and external DEIAJ initiatives. We also traced the history of climate and environmental justice movements and their impact on our organization’s mission and values.

The conference at the LEED Gold-certified Hawai’i Convention Center featured many sessions. Notable topics included “Interrogating the I in BIPOC: A Law and Policy Perspective” and “Colonization: The Root of Queer Antagonism.” These sessions were raw, informative, and powerful, addressing the challenges faced by faculty and staff of color in academia.

I participated in the Black caucus space, gaining insights into the specific challenges faced by Black, Asian, and American Indian faculty and staff. A prominent theme was the inadequacy of language to identify people accurately, with “BIPOC” often seen as problematic. Despite its flaws, it remains a default term, but there is a push to be more specific in naming identities and lands.

Many Black faculty expressed difficulty envisioning an education system genuinely supportive of Blackness and Black joy, highlighting the academy’s roots in colonization. Data from various presentations showed that staff of color feel significantly under-resourced and under-supported, affirming the necessity of creating affinity spaces for these professionals.

Overall, attending NCORE was a profound privilege. Cami and I returned with a deeper understanding of academia’s current state concerning race, ethnicity, and social justice. We were honored to advocate for integrating personal identities into professional work, a practice we embody at Second Nature. This invaluable experience will stay with us as we continue championing climate justice and DEIAJ efforts in higher education.

The post Second Nature Leads on Climate Programming at the 2024 National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) appeared first on Second Nature.

Contact: Bari Samad, Director of Communications & Marketing, Second Nature; bsamad@secondnature.org

(March 14, 2024) – Today, Second Nature- an NGO focused on accelerating climate action in and through higher education- announced six (6) higher education institutions as the recipients of pro bono consulting services to support their climate action projects.

Through this initiative, technical and advisory support worth up to $25,000 will be provided to campuses at no cost in two areas: (1) Climate Action Planning and (2) Shifting to Renewable Power and Decarbonizing Campuses. Institutions that are Second Nature Climate Leadership Network signatories, affiliates, and University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members were eligible to apply.

The pro bono consulting opportunities began in the Fall of 2020 as a new Solutions Center initiative. Provided and sponsored by Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D) and Coho, two long-standing Second Nature partners, 29 colleges and universities have received the award.

The 2024 Pro Bono Round IV recipient colleges and universities are:

Brailsford & Dunlavey:

• Loyola University Maryland (Maryland)
• Tulane University (Louisiana)
• University at Buffalo (New York)

Coho:

• Coastal Carolina University (South Carolina)
• Creighton University (Nebraska)
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (Alabama)

“At Second Nature, we are committed to supporting the innovative climate action projects of our member institutions and the impact they have both on campus and in adjacent communities,” notes Tim Carter, President of Second Nature. “The 2024 Pro Bono awardees reflect a diverse range of institutions, and their work is a testament to higher education’s leadership in creating impactful and equitable climate solutions. We thank Brailsford & Dunlavey and Coho for their generous support of this critical service for the past four years. This initiative would not be possible without them.”

The consulting services provided by Brailsford & Dunlavey and Coho are:

• Climate Action Planning: Brailsford & Dunlavey provides this service, which supports the drafting of a climate action plan that outlines a technically and financially feasible roadmap towards an equitable, carbon-free future aligned with the institution’s education and research mission.
• ScopeDeepDiveor CAPUpdate: Recipient campuses will have an opportunity for a deep technical analysis of Scope 1 & 2 or 3 emissions, or the option to revise an existing climate action plan, in addition to an executive presentation to their campus leadership. This is a great option for campuses that already have a plan but would like to evolve specific aspects of this work. Brailsford & Dunlavey provides this service.
• Shifting to Renewable Power: Coho provides this service, which supports a transition to renewable power. It includes an assessment of the institution’s energy situation, identification of renewable energy solutions, and recommendations for implementing one or more of the advised energy solutions.
• Decarbonizing Campus: Recipient campuses receive advisory services to support decarbonizing Scope 1 and 3 emissions sources, e.g., electrifying buildings or vehicles, carbon offsets for upstream emissions such as travel, etc. Coho provides this service.

“Brailsford & Dunlavey is committed to accelerating climate action strategic planning through our partnership with Second Nature, and now in its fourth year, we continue to be impressed by the creative breadth and depth of proposals received,” said Dave Karlsgodt, the leader of B&D’s Energy and Sustainability practice group. “Higher education plays a vital role in mitigating the climate crisis through innovative operational advancements combined with expansive, solutions-based academic programming. As a business community partner, we look forward to advancing initiatives to address the planet’s most pressing issue.”

“Coho is proud to support the decarbonization of higher education in the United States. Second Nature and its member campuses are wonderful partners, and we look forward to a new round of high-impact projects,” said Gary Farha, founder and CEO of Coho, an ERM Group Company.

For Round IV, Second Nature received applications from twenty higher education institutions. The six awarded colleges and universities come from diverse regions and environments across the United States.

Below is more information about the Round IV Pro Bono awardee projects:

Loyola University Maryland

Partnering with Brailsford & Dunlavey will allow us to develop a comprehensive, data-backed roadmap built upon our existing climate action plan. This will include a pathway connecting our current progress to our 2031 and 2045 goals and an informed strategy that includes the associated support and funds necessary to implement these initiatives. We are grateful for this opportunity made possible through Brailsford & Dunlavey and Second Nature.

“Our Loyola University Maryland community is committed to caring for our common home. We are delighted and grateful to have the opportunity to partner with Brailsford & Dunlavey in helping us move this work forward. We know that collaboration and planning will be key to our success as an institution, as we strive to take positive steps forward to ensure a more sustainable future not just for our campus, but also for the world.”- Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., President, Loyola University Maryland

Tulane University

The Second Nature Pro Bono award expedites university efforts to recalibrate the 2014 Climate Action Plan to maintain progress toward our climate commitment. In consultation with Brailsford & Dunlavey, this rapid and focused effort will update the university operations profile, incorporate external factors contributing to our emissions projections, revisit building design standards, and evaluate opportunities to accelerate our emissions reduction timeline. Work undertaken this spring will inform campus improvement projects in the pipeline with updated strategies to meet our 2050 neutrality goal.

“On behalf of Tulane University, we are honored to be selected as a recipient of Second Nature’s Pro Bono Consulting Award. These consulting services allow us to re-evaluate and improve various aspects of our Climate Action Plan in an effort to be more efficient and effective in achieving our goals. We are grateful for the opportunity to support this plan and the university’s efforts to build and maintain sustainable communities at Tulane and within the greater New Orleans area.”- Randolph A. Philipson, Vice President for Facilities, Campus Development, and Real Estate, Tulane University

University at Buffalo

This initiative is designed to leverage the University at Buffalo’s 10 in 10 Climate Action Plan (a roadmap of innovative, engaging and digestible steps UB is taking to increasing climate action) and specifically focuses on assisting UB to sharpen its strategy and increase the intensity of its pace. The work will develop detailed and specific goals pegged to a timeline and provide clear budgetary implications across all emission streams at the University. In addition, Brailsford & Dunlavey will partner with UB to create a detailed decarbonization and monitoring system that dials in the university’s climate neutrality efforts with SMART goals that will greatly assist in tracking KPI’s, increasing institutional accountability, and driving greater carbon emission savings all while supporting the commitment to climate justice.

“We are excited to work with Second Nature and Brailsford & Dunlavey while taking the next step in advancing our climate action and decarbonization work. While we have made strong progress in this space, we have more work to do. By leveraging outside expertise we are confident it will complement and propel our existing efforts into a detailed and impactful roadmap that can not only be effectively communicated to stakeholders but provide the next critical step in advancing our climate neutrality work. This effort will truly dial in our climate action strategy and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner.”- Laura Hubbard, Vice President for Finance and Administration at the University at Buffalo

Shifting to Renewable Power & Decarbonizing Campuses

Coastal Carolina University

University-owned vehicles provide important services that contribute to the daily functioning of the University: shuttles transport CCU students, faculty, and staff around campus and to nearby locations; vehicles are used by departments across campus to carry out daily tasks related to operations; and motor pool vehicles are available to faculty and staff to use locally to carry out University-related activities. Each year, the University’s fleet of vehicles consumes tens of thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel, representing ~2% of CCU’s total emissions. Growing the percentage of electric vehicles in CCU’s fleet would reduce the emissions associated with fleet fuels, and reduce costs associated with purchasing fuel. This Pro Bono Consulting opportunity made available through Second Nature will provide valuable insight and best practices as to how CCU can cost-effectively transition to low emission vehicles and expand EV charging infrastructure on its campus. As an institution of higher education located in 4one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S., CCU has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and serve as a model for the region around sustainable transportation.

“We are excited and grateful for this opportunity to work with Coho. This partnership comes at an opportune time as there is a great deal of momentum on CCU’s campus around sustainability and climate resilience. We have already taken positive steps towards electrifying our fleet and expanding EV charging infrastructure, and firmly believe that developing a high-level fleet electrification strategy in partnership with Coho will be transformative to our ability to systematically reduce emissions.”- Steve Harrison, Vice President for Auxiliary Enterprises & Chief Sustainability Officer, Coastal Carolina University

Creighton University

Creighton University launched the Sustainable Creighton Initiative in 2022, updating our 2013 Climate Action Plan and accelerating the decarbonization of campus. We have achieved a 40% reduction in emissions, to date, through prudent decisions surrounding campus planning, building design, recommissioning, and deferred maintenance. We know efficiency improvements alone are insufficient to achieving our desired goals. The Pro Bono work with Coho will provide us with industry expertise necessary to navigate the current– and changingrenewable energy landscape as we thoughtfully consider our pathways to faithfully meet our campus initiatives to reach 50% emissions reductions by 2028 and full carbon neutrality well before 2050.

“As a Jesuit, Catholic institution with locations in Omaha, Phoenix, and the Dominican Republic, Creighton University is committed to urgent and impactful actions that benefit our common home. As caretakers of the planet and the well-being of the students we serve, we must be authentically engaged in positive, forward-looking initiatives that give students the opportunity to pursue a hope-filled future. In so doing, we recognize that addressing our ongoing climate crisis, one that Pope Francis has noted is at a critical breaking point, must be informed by the virtues of prudence, integrity, and reason. The resources provided by Second Nature and Coho will accelerate our pursuit of sustainable energy across our campuses, helping us to reduce carbon emissions and move closer to achieving carbon neutrality. We are grateful to be the recipient of this valuable collaboration and eager to be partners in protecting our environment.”- President, Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD, Creighton University 

University of Alabama at Birmingham

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is guided by a Sustainability Strategic Plan that prioritizes resiliency and sustainability while promoting the three tenets of UAB: teaching, patient care, and research. UAB is investigating the feasibility of electrifying the campus bus system and fleet vehicle program. Coho will provide UAB with assistance in formulating a plan that will reduce Scope 1 emissions from the institution’s transportation sector. Our goal is to use Coho’s framework to develop an affordable and actionable plan for our campus.

“The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Sustainability program is excited to be working with Coho through Second Nature’s Solutions Center Pro Bono Initiative. Coho has an excellent track record of catalyzing bold climate action and facilitating feasible solutions for complex problems. UAB has set transformative goals for decarbonizing our campus through our Sustainability Strategic Plan, and we look forward to benefiting from Coho’s extensive knowledge and experience in achieving emissions reductions.”- Bambi Ingram, Sustainability Manager, University of Alabama at Birmingham

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About Second Nature

Second Nature is committed to accelerating climate action in, and through, higher education. This is accomplished by mobilizing a diverse array of higher education institutions to act on bold climate commitments, to scale campus climate initiatives, and to create innovative climate solutions. Second Nature aims to align, amplify, and bridge the sector’s efforts with other global leaders to advance urgent climate priorities. secondnature.org.

About Brailsford & Dunlavey

Brailsford & Dunlavey (bdconnect.com) is a Washington, DC‐headquartered national advisory and program management firm with comprehensive in‐house planning and implementation capabilities, dedicated to serving public agencies, professional sports organizations, educational institutions, and non‐profit clients. B&D has more than 150 people in seven offices throughout the U.S. For more information, please contact Doug Kotlove at 202-266-3410 or dkotlove@bdconnect.com.

About Coho, an ERM Group Company

Coho is a trusted energy and water advisor that partners with impact-oriented clients to develop actionable strategies, implement tailored solutions, and optimize performance over time. Coho advises clients on strategy, procurement, and organizational implementation of renewable energy and resilient water solutions. https://www.cohoclimate.com

The post Six (6) Colleges and Universities Receive Pro Bono Consulting Awards Worth up to $25,000 each to Support Climate Action appeared first on Second Nature.