Michael Burger

Michael Burger is the Executive Director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School and a Senior Research Scholar. He leads a team addressing climate change through legal strategies, focusing on emissions reduction, adaptation, pollution control, land use, and green finance. He teaches a Natural Resources Law seminar and collaborates with researchers at Columbia’s Earth Institute, environmental groups, and international organizations.

Education: J.D. from Columbia Law School, B.A. from Brown University, and M.F.A. in Creative Writing from NYU. Previously, he was an Associate Professor at Roger Williams University School of Law, teaching environmental law and directing a clinical externship program. He also worked at NYU’s Lawyering Program and the NYC Office of the Corporation Counsel.

He is a frequent speaker and media contributor, appearing in outlets like The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and on podcasts like Columbia Law School’s 'Defending the Planet.' He co-founded the Environmental Law Collaborative and chairs the NYC Bar’s International Environmental Law Committee.