State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

201110

  • Scientists Predict Faster Retreat for Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

    Study Identifies Underwater Ridge Critical to Future Flow

  • Methane, Modern Science and the Dalai Lama

    Methane, Modern Science and the Dalai Lama

    Last week, 10 scientists met with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders in Dharamsala, India, to discuss the relation between modern environmental issues and ancient contemplative traditions–the 23rd such annual meeting. Among them was psychologist Elke Weber, codirector of the Earth Institute’s Center for Research on Enivronmental Decisions. Weber, who studies how people think about climate change and…

  • 7 Billion on 10/31: The Numbers Can Be Scary

    7 Billion on 10/31: The Numbers Can Be Scary

    You can now watch the tape of “The World at 7 Billion: Sustaining Our Future,” the Earth Institute’s panel discussion held at Columbia Oct. 17 and featuring the presentation by Professor Joel E. Cohen on the “good and bad news” behind the growing world population.

  • Scientific Publisher to Provide Easy Access to Study Data

    Scientific Publisher to Provide Easy Access to Study Data

    Modern society is awash in data. By one estimate, as much information today is created in 48 hours as was produced in the last 30,000 years. The challenge now is making all those megabytes public. This month, Elsevier, publisher of The Lancet and Cell, announced that it would establish reciprocal linking between its geochemistry journals…

  • Join CERC Today at Open House

    Join CERC Today at Open House

    Join CERC Today at The Environmental and Sustainable Development Programs Open House today, Monday, October 24, 2011, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Rotunda of Low Library on Columbia University’s Morningside campus (116th and Broadway).

  • China’s Decade Plan for Water

    China’s Decade Plan for Water

    For the first time, China’s No. 1 central document outlining the government’s priorities for the coming year focuses on the construction of water resources acknowledging its importance as a “strategic resource” and its necessity to the economy.

  • Migration in the Face of Global Environmental Change

    Migration in the Face of Global Environmental Change

    Over the past 40 years, coastal and inland water ecosystems experienced the greatest levels of net in-migration, vs. mountain, forest, cultivated, and dryland ecosystems, which experienced the greatest levels of net out-migration, says a new report.

  • Perspectives on Monitoring and Evaluation in the African Millennium Villages

    Dr. Paul Pronyk, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation for the Millennium Villages Project (joined by Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the MVP and Dr. Prabhjot Singh, Director of System Design of the MVP) As the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Centre for Global Health and Economic Development at The Earth Institute, I…

  • Open House: Earth Institute Graduate Programs

    The Environmental and Sustainable Development Programs Open House is a wonderful opportunity for you to find out more about Columbia’s cutting-edge graduate degrees in sustainable development and environmental studies. We invite you to come explore our diverse offering of programs, have your application questions answered, and meet with current Columbia students and faculty. Attend the…

Photo of the Earth from space with the text "Lamont at AGU25" on top.

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

  • Scientists Predict Faster Retreat for Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

    Study Identifies Underwater Ridge Critical to Future Flow

  • Methane, Modern Science and the Dalai Lama

    Methane, Modern Science and the Dalai Lama

    Last week, 10 scientists met with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders in Dharamsala, India, to discuss the relation between modern environmental issues and ancient contemplative traditions–the 23rd such annual meeting. Among them was psychologist Elke Weber, codirector of the Earth Institute’s Center for Research on Enivronmental Decisions. Weber, who studies how people think about climate change and…

  • 7 Billion on 10/31: The Numbers Can Be Scary

    7 Billion on 10/31: The Numbers Can Be Scary

    You can now watch the tape of “The World at 7 Billion: Sustaining Our Future,” the Earth Institute’s panel discussion held at Columbia Oct. 17 and featuring the presentation by Professor Joel E. Cohen on the “good and bad news” behind the growing world population.

  • Scientific Publisher to Provide Easy Access to Study Data

    Scientific Publisher to Provide Easy Access to Study Data

    Modern society is awash in data. By one estimate, as much information today is created in 48 hours as was produced in the last 30,000 years. The challenge now is making all those megabytes public. This month, Elsevier, publisher of The Lancet and Cell, announced that it would establish reciprocal linking between its geochemistry journals…

  • Join CERC Today at Open House

    Join CERC Today at Open House

    Join CERC Today at The Environmental and Sustainable Development Programs Open House today, Monday, October 24, 2011, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Rotunda of Low Library on Columbia University’s Morningside campus (116th and Broadway).

  • China’s Decade Plan for Water

    China’s Decade Plan for Water

    For the first time, China’s No. 1 central document outlining the government’s priorities for the coming year focuses on the construction of water resources acknowledging its importance as a “strategic resource” and its necessity to the economy.

  • Migration in the Face of Global Environmental Change

    Migration in the Face of Global Environmental Change

    Over the past 40 years, coastal and inland water ecosystems experienced the greatest levels of net in-migration, vs. mountain, forest, cultivated, and dryland ecosystems, which experienced the greatest levels of net out-migration, says a new report.

  • Perspectives on Monitoring and Evaluation in the African Millennium Villages

    Dr. Paul Pronyk, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation for the Millennium Villages Project (joined by Prof. Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the MVP and Dr. Prabhjot Singh, Director of System Design of the MVP) As the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Centre for Global Health and Economic Development at The Earth Institute, I…

  • Open House: Earth Institute Graduate Programs

    The Environmental and Sustainable Development Programs Open House is a wonderful opportunity for you to find out more about Columbia’s cutting-edge graduate degrees in sustainable development and environmental studies. We invite you to come explore our diverse offering of programs, have your application questions answered, and meet with current Columbia students and faculty. Attend the…