2026 ONLINE SUMMER INSTITUTE
What if, in just a few days, you could develop a better understanding of our climate,
become a more confident educator, build a network of wonderful colleagues,
and return to your school with new ideas about how to engage students with climate education?
Online Summer Institute on Climate Education
The Center for Sustainable Futures at Teachers College, Columbia University presents the 2026 Online Summer Institute on Climate Education, an immersive, online professional development experience:
- July 20-24, 2026 and July 27-31, 2026
- 12:00 – 1:30pm (EST) / 9:00 – 10:30am (PST) each day
Join educators from across the country for this 30 hour course, spread over ten days, and designed to deepen your understanding of climate and strengthen your ability to integrate climate education into your classroom—no matter your subject area and grade. Whether you teach science, English, math, social studies, or the arts, this Institute is designed to help you seamlessly incorporate climate education into your subject area.
The Summer Institute brings together faculty, doctoral students, experts and leaders to create a collaborative learning community that explores innovative ways of bringing climate education into classrooms.
Through live sessions, expert panels, self-paced activities, and peer collaboration, participants will deepen their understanding of climate, build confidence as educators, co-create innovative teaching materials, and join a supportive network of colleagues committed to climate literacy.
Grounded in an interdisciplinary approach, the Institute emphasizes pedagogy and practice, helping teachers think about how to bring their unique perspective and discipline to climate education.
The 2026 Online Summer Institute is free.
Participants who successfully complete this institute will earn a verified Certificate of Participation
and an official Digital Badge—valuable credentials that showcase your commitment to professional growth
and can be shared on LinkedIn or digital portfolios.
Licensed educators in NY state are also eligible for a Continuing Teacher Leader Education (CTLE)
certificate for a total of 30 CTLE hours.
Important Notice: This is a non-credit program. Completion does not provide academic credit
toward any degree program at Teachers College or other institutions.
No transcript credit will be awarded.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Application, Dates, and Other Details
This Institute is ideal for K–12 educators across all subject areas and grades – science, English, math, social studies, and the arts – who want to integrate climate into their teaching in meaningful, standards-aligned ways. Curriculum coordinators and school leaders building a culture of climate literacy are also welcome. No prior expertise in climate science is required, just a commitment to empowering students to engage with one of the defining challenges of our time.
- Application deadline: June 26, 2026
- Decisions released by: TBD
Questions? Please contact the Summer Institute team.
To request disability-related accommodations, please complete the Accommodations Request Form or contact the Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID) [phone: (212) 678-3689; video-phone: (646) 755-3144] as soon as possible.
