201026
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Beat the Heat, but with Bottled Water?
As temperatures in the Northeast finally begin to ease, we can assess the first heat wave of summer 2010. Here in New York, there was remarkably little drama. Through Herculean efforts, ConEd was able to avoid any serious blackouts or brownouts, and thankfully, there were no health emergencies. Neither were there any major heat-induced public…
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Climate News Roundup — Week of 6/28 – 7/4
If You Can’t Stand the Heat, New Research Suggests Moving Out of the City, The New York Times While the urban heat island effect – the recorded phenomenon of urban areas retaining more heat than rural ones – is well-known, new research from the UK suggests that urban areas will be more sensitive to climate…
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Chlorine: What Are Your Kids Swimming In?
It turns out that using chlorine to purify water has an interesting and controversial history that raises many questions about the price we pay for safety and public health, because in spite of it’s apparent benefits, the widespread use of the chemical carries substantial risks as well.
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Does temperature control atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations?
A record of temperature and atmospheric CO2 from Antarctic ice cores shows the tight relationship between the two over the past 800,000 years (see figure). It is frequently asserted that changes in Earth’s temperature or, more specifically, the temperature of the ocean, caused atmospheric CO2 concentrations to vary over that time period. The underlying principle…
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Fostering 21st Century Learning in sub-Saharan Africa
The following is a guest blog, authored by Jim Teicher, Executive Director, CyberSmart! Africa. Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author in this blog do not represent the opinion of the Millennium Cities Initiative, the Earth Institute at Columbia University or any of its professional consultants. How can every school in Africa deliver a 21st-century…
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Enel and Sime Darby Join the Earth Institute Corporate Circle
We are pleased to welcome Enel and Sime Darby to the Earth Institute’s Corporate Circle. Sime Darby has pledged $475,000 for the Tropical Agriculture Program and $25,000 for the China 2049 program as a “Strategic Partner” of the Institute. Enel has joined as a “Sustaining Partner” with a $25,000 gift. Both corporations are supporting the…
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Jamaica Bay, a refuge for wildlife in New York City, gets protection
The good news is that the migratory birds and resident marine life of Jamaica Bay may be getting a reprieve. In February, Mayor Bloomberg, the State Environmental Council and the Natural Resources Defense Council announced an agreement that would improve water quality and preserve the wetlands of Jamaica Bay. The Jamaica Bay Watershed Protection Plan…
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The Policy Buffet (Part 2): Understanding the American Power Act
This is the second post in a series that covers the Senate’s current energy and climate proposals. The introductory post can be found here. Among the various climate and energy proposals floating through the Senate, the American Power Act (APA) has received the lion’s share of attention. The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass) and…
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Grounding Climate Negotiations in Solution-Oriented Research
With the generous support of the Planet Heritage Foundation and the Skoll Global Threats Fund, the Earth Institute is initiating the Global Network for Climate Solutions and evaluating its ability to influence future international climate negotiations by grounding them in shared research that is focused on concrete solutions and action. The effort aims to facilitate…
AGU25, the premier Earth and space science conference, takes place December 15-19, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s theme—Where Science Connects Us—puts in focus how science depends on connection, from the lab to the field to the ballot box. Once again, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia Climate School scientists, experts, students, and educators are playing an active role, sharing our research and helping shape the future of our planet. #AGU25 Learn More