MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative

The MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative (ESI) advanced science, engineering, policy and social science, design, the humanities, and the arts towards a people-centric and planet-positive future from 2014-2025. As of June 2025, the ESI's research, education, and engagement projects — including Arts and Climate, Cities and Climate, Climate Education, Climate Engagement, Mining and the Circular Economy, and Natural Climate Solutions — have been resettled across the Institute. The Natural Climate Solutions, Cities and Climate, and Arts and Climate research groups have merged to form a new research group, Environmental Research + Action (ERA): Cities, Nature and AI. It is situated within the MIT School of Architecture and Planning (MIT SAP). The Climate Education, Climate Engagement, and Mining and the Circular Economy programs have joined The Climate Project at MIT. Additional information about the ESI's transition can be found in an article written by ESI director John E. Fernández, linked below.