Harvard University Unveils New Academic Specialization in Energy, Climate, and Environment

Harvard College has officially sanctioned the establishment of a groundbreaking academic concentration titled "Energy, Climate, and Environment" (ENCE). This new program is scheduled to be available to students starting in the 2026–2027 academic year. It represents a significant shift toward a multidisciplinary framework, integrating the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to address the complexities of the global climate crisis.

The ENCE initiative is the result of extensive, multi-year deliberations between various university departments. It is positioned as a humanistic alternative to the existing "Environmental Science and Public Policy" (ESPP) concentration, offering a broader perspective on how humanity interacts with and impacts the natural world.

The launch of this program is a core component of Harvard’s broader strategic commitment to environmental stewardship. It directly supports the university's institutional objective to achieve fossil fuel neutrality by the year 2026, bridging the gap between academic study and institutional action.

The foundation of the new curriculum is the introductory course "ENCE 10: A Guide to Energy, Climate, and Environment." This foundational class was meticulously designed by a team of distinguished faculty members: Professor Jason Beckfield from the Department of Sociology, Professor Lene V. Hau from the Department of Physics, and Professor Joyce E. Chaplin from the Department of History.

Professor Lene V. Hau has highlighted that a successful response to modern climate and energy challenges requires a deep synergy between scientific, economic, and sociological disciplines. By combining these fields, the program aims to provide students with a comprehensive toolkit for problem-solving in an increasingly unstable climate.

The ENCE concentration is structured around four specialized tracks that encompass all divisions of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). These tracks allow students to focus their studies while maintaining a broad understanding of the field's diverse aspects.

• Science and Engineering for Sustainable Solutions
• Nature, Ethics, and the Human Imagination
• Markets, Politics, and Societies
• Biodiversity and Climate Science

Undergraduates enrolled in the program will have the opportunity to explore their chosen track in depth while collaborating across disciplines. This collaborative spirit is essential for preparing students to work in the multifaceted teams required in the professional environmental sector.

A cornerstone of the ENCE experience is the mandatory Capstone project. During this final phase of study, interdisciplinary teams of students will work together to develop practical, scalable solutions for real-world ecological and energy-related problems.

The ENCE concentration will coexist with Harvard's established programs, including "Environmental Science and Public Policy" (ESPP) and "Environmental Science and Engineering" (ESE). This expansion of the curriculum provides students with a more diverse set of pathways to pursue careers in sustainability and environmental advocacy.

While the ESPP concentration focuses primarily on the intersection of scientific data and government policy, ENCE offers a different emphasis. The "Nature, Ethics, and the Human Imagination" track, for instance, focuses heavily on the philosophical and social dimensions of the climate crisis.

Furthermore, the "Markets, Politics, and Societies" track provides students with the analytical tools to evaluate climate policy through the lenses of economics and sociology. This ensures that graduates understand the market forces and social structures that drive environmental change.

The "Science and Engineering for Sustainable Solutions" track is designed to maintain a close relationship with the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). This allows students to access high-level technical coursework alongside their interdisciplinary studies.

Harvard’s academic innovations are being matched by concrete operational measures to reduce the university's carbon footprint. The institution is on a clear path to reach fossil fuel neutrality by 2026, which involves eliminating emissions in both the first and second sectors of scope.

This 2026 target is a major milestone within the university's comprehensive "Goal Zero" strategy. The ultimate objective of this plan is the total elimination of fossil fuel use across all university operations by the year 2050.

To ensure energy independence and sustainability, Harvard has entered into strategic partnerships with MIT and Mass General Brigham. Together, these institutions have invested in significant renewable energy infrastructure projects across the United States.

These investments include a massive 200 MW solar power facility located in Texas and a 208 MW wind power station in North Dakota. These projects are critical to the university's plan to transition its energy procurement entirely to renewable sources.

By the year 2026, these renewable energy projects are expected to cover 100% of the Harvard campus's electricity requirements. This move demonstrates the university's commitment to leading by example in the global transition to clean energy.

The introduction of the ENCE concentration reflects Harvard’s ambition to train a new generation of leaders who can think systemically. These specialists will be uniquely equipped to operate at the intersection of ecology, energy technology, and social development.

Through this program, the university is strengthening its role as a leader in both the academic and practical foundations of a sustainable future. The curriculum is designed to evolve alongside the rapidly changing landscape of global environmental policy and technology.

Ultimately, the ENCE program serves as a model for how higher education can adapt to meet the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. It prepares students not just to understand the world, but to actively participate in its preservation and improvement.