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Organizer

The Columbia Climate School
The Columbia Climate School
Website
Website:

The climate crisis is one of the greatest threats facing humanity. In response, Columbia University established the nation's first climate school in 2020 to educate future climate leaders, support groundbreaking research, and foster essential climate solutions from the community to the planetary scale.

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Venue

The Forum at Columbia University
601 W. 125th St., New York, NY 10027
Opening Hour
08:00
Website
https://theforum.columbia.edu/
Phone
212-853-6786

The Forum, located on the corner of 125th Street and Broadway, is a unique community gathering space that serves as the gateway to Columbia University's developing Manhattanville campus. Open to the entire university as well as the local New York City community, The Forum is a multi-use venue that houses a state-of-the-art auditorium, meeting and event spaces, and communal work areas.

Other Locations

Online
online

Category

TICKETS/REGISTER LINK

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Date

Jul 16 2025

Time

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Formats (virtual, in person, hybrid)

Hybrid

Financing for a Riskier Future

This is a hybrid event, featuring both in-person and virtual components.

Disasters and shocks—both climate-related and otherwise—are increasing in frequency, intensity, and complexity, posing escalating threats to sustainable development worldwide. According to the 2025 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction, direct disaster losses now average between $180 and $200 billion annually. When cascading effects and ecosystem impacts are included, the true global cost exceeds $2.3 trillion per year. These systemic risks are reversing development gains, stretching national capacities, and challenging the international system’s ability to respond.

While the costs are significant, the benefits of investing in resilience are well-established. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures deliver some of the highest benefit-cost ratios in development investment, ranging from 2:1 to 10:1 or more. Nevertheless, investment remains far below what is needed. The UNEP Adaptation Gap Report 2024 estimates an annual financing shortfall of US$187 billion to US$359 billion, highlighting the urgent need to close this gap to avoid increasingly unmanageable financial and economic consequences. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), held in 2025, further underscored the urgent need to scale up investment in DRR and climate adaptation financing. Addressing this challenge requires the active engagement of scientists, policymakers, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to co-develop new, evidence-based financing solutions that can be scaled and sustained.

This event, co-hosted by the Columbia Climate School, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), will explore how science, policy, and academia can help bridge the resilience financing divide. It will feature a keynote by Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction; highlight new tools developed by NCDP to better target finance to the countries that need it most; and showcase Columbia’s academic leadership in training the next generation of climate and resilience professionals.

Speakers

  • Keynote speaker: Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
  • Jeff Schlegelmilch, Associate Professor of Professional Practice in the Faculty of Climate, Director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), Director of Executive Education and Non-Degree Programs, Columbia Climate School
  • Lisa Dale, Senior Lecturer in Climate; Director, MA Climate + Society
  • Moderator: Andrew Kruczkiewicz, Senior Researcher, Columbia Climate School, National Center for Disaster Preparedness
    • Interactive Question and Answers
  • Closing Remarks
Event Contact Information:
Lauren Esposito
212-853-3745
lde2112@columbia.edu