Binghamton University, led by Nobel Laureate M. Stanley Whittingham, leads the nation in lithium-ion battery storage technology development and commercialization, and houses the New Energy New York Battery Tech Hub and Energy Storage Engine, which has received two phases of funding from the National Science Foundation. In the most recently funded phase, the Energy Storage Engine will prioritize next-gen battery systems and solutions that advance safety, address challenges in building power systems for energy storage applications, drive cost and resource efficiency in manufacturing, and integrate AI into all aspects of energy storage from materials discovery to production efficiency.
University at Albany’s climate scientists Aiguo Dai and Liming Zhou have been named among the world’s most highly cited researchers in Clarivate’s 2025 list, recognizing those whose work ranks in the top 1% for citations in their field. Their inclusion reflects the significant global impact of their research — Dai on topics like Arctic climate change, droughts, and water cycles; and Zhou on how land-surface changes affect weather, vegetation, and atmospheric interactions.
SUNY ESF, pollinator ecologist Molly Jacobson discovered a rare bee species at the Chestnut restoration orchard. Two specimens of the chestnut mining bee were collected from native American chestnut trees, marking the first confirmed sighting of the species in Central New York, and only the second known population in the state, last recorded in 1904. This expands the known range of the bee in New York and shows promise for its persistence in managed orchards.
| Year | Recommended activities | Status |
| 1 | Convene a system-wide task force on climate and sustainability research, comprised of faculty and industry experts tasked with identifying current capabilities and gaps in research, devising a strategy for investment that leverages state, federal, and private funding and partnership opportunities, and fostering commercialization to meet the demands of the transition to a green economy. | 50% Complete |
| 1 | Facilitate and support cross-campus research networks around climate and sustainability. | Not Started |
| 1 | Seek additional funding for climate and sustainability research from federal, state, and private sources. | Not Started |
| 1 | Work with the DEC-supported and ESF-housed Center for Sustainable Materials Management to undertake and commercialize research into the circular economy, including the reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing of batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, textiles, and other goods. | Not Started |
| 1 | Leverage student research under the Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund and student experiences through the SUNY Climate Corps Internship Program and Empire State Service Corps to identify research needs that could be addressed through student or faculty research. | Not Started |
| 1 | Develop internal and external communications about planned, ongoing, and completed research on climate and sustainability issues. | Not Started |
| 2 | Publish an annual inventory of SUNY sustainability research and researchers. | Launched or underway |
| 2 | Implement a seed grant program to build capacity for research and education at campuses from different sectors (e.g., comprehensive university, university center, technical college, and community college) and encourage collaborative applications for climate and sustainability grant applications. | Not Started |
| 2 | Hold a climate and sustainability ventures fair for emerging climate tech and other sustainability start-ups to showcase their concepts in front of funders. | Not Started |
| 3,4,5 | Hold an annual SUNY research symposium on climate, sustainability, and related fields and promote responsible research and innovation. | Launched or underway |
| 3,4,5 | Create at least one new center or innovation hub to foster agricultural technology, clean energy, resilient food systems, or other sustainability-related businesses and develop outreach to companies that seek to commercialize SUNY environmental and sustainability research in partnership with state and local energy and economic development agencies. | Launched or underway |