Sheila R. Foster

Sheila R. Foster is a tenured Professor of Climate at the Columbia Climate School and an affiliated faculty member at Columbia Law School. Her research focuses on environmental and climate justice, innovative resource governance, land use policy, and the role of local governments in addressing global challenges. She holds a J.D. from UC Berkeley and a B.A. (English, Honors) from the University of Michigan. Foster co-directs LabGov, pioneering the 'co-city' approach to urban challenges, and has authored influential books like Co-Cities and From the Ground Up. She serves on the New York City Panel on Climate Change and the Environmental Justice Advisory Board, and has been recognized with awards including the ACOEL Fellowship and the IUCN Senior Scholar Award.

Education:

• J.D., University of California, Berkeley
• B.S., University of Michigan (English, Honors)

Research Interests: Environmental Justice, Climate Justice, Urban Policy, Land Use, Subnational Governance, and the Co-City Model. Foster’s work emphasizes equitable urban solutions through community collaboration and policy innovation, particularly in marginalized communities.

Key Contributions: LabGov’s co-city model has been applied globally to foster inclusive urban development. Her recent work advances climate justice in NYC’s adaptation strategies and explores micropolitan urban-rural linkages. She co-edits the Journal of Climate Resilience & Climate Justice and advises global networks like the Global Parliament of Mayors.

Awards & Honors:

• ACOEL Fellow (2024)
• American Bar Foundation Fellow (2024)
• Prose Award (2023) for Co-Cities
• IUCN Senior Scholar Award (2018)

Grants & Advising: Collaborates with local governments, federal agencies, and international bodies. Advises on climate displacement, equity in urban resilience, and global mayoral networks. Previously taught at Georgetown and Fordham Universities, holding roles such as Scott K. Ginsburg Professor of Urban Law and Policy.

Labs & Teams: Co-directs LabGov, a research lab advancing urban commons and equitable governance. Partners with organizations to operationalize the co-city framework in cities worldwide.