State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Month: February 20123

  • MPA Student Complements Classroom Learning with Hydrofracking Policy Experience

    MPA Student Complements Classroom Learning with Hydrofracking Policy Experience

    “I had been very interested in hydrofracking before I started the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program, but really became passionate about the negative the environmental impacts of the practice through my workshop, which analyzed and created an implementation plan for the FRAC Act of 2011.” Josh Garrett, MPA-ESP Class of 2012 student,…

  • Climate Services: No need to wait for disasters to happen

    Climate Services: No need to wait for disasters to happen

    “We need climate information to be able to see disasters coming ahead of time, not just hours, but also weeks, months, and even decades in terms of trends.” — Maarten Van Aalst, the Director of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre talks about the importance of climate services for humanitarian operations planning and preparedness, for…

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 2/13

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 2/13

    Leak Offers Glimpse of Campaign Against Climate Science, New Global Deal on Climate Change, What’s Next for Renewable Energy in the Mediterranean?, Climate Change Increases Risk of Storm Surge, According to MIT Study

  • Extraordinary Support for Unprecedented Global Challenges

    Extraordinary Support for Unprecedented Global Challenges

    The Earth Institute’s annual donor report for fiscal year 2011 is now available in an interactive digital format. We remain committed to finding extraordinary support to unprecedented global challenges, many of which are outlined in this report. We have highlighted some of our innovative projects in research, policy, and education, as well as the partnerships…

  • What Darwin Saw

    What Darwin Saw

    Sir Charles Darwin realized that humanity is interwoven with nature, that all of life is in a state of constant flux. The empowerment of nature, made possible by Darwin’s integration of human life into the whole, and grounded in his lived experience and profound humility, is the foundation of modern ecology.

  • Data’s Power to Spur Environmental Progress

    Data’s Power to Spur Environmental Progress

    In January, 132 countries received their environmental report cards. The Environmental Performance Index has goaded leaders into action by letting them see their countries’ strengths and weaknesses compared to other countries.

  • Climate Services: A Regional Perspective

    Climate Services: A Regional Perspective

    “But we unfortunately are in one of the areas in which climate prediction is very difficult because we’re in the middle of two big oceans, and on the fringe between the interaction of Northern Hemisphere systems and Southern Hemisphere systems.” — Costa Rica’s Patricia Ramirez on the value of shared climate services across Central America…

  • Power Play: an Energy Map of New York City

    Power Play: an Energy Map of New York City

    A new interactive, color-coded map created by a team at Columbia’s engineering school allows viewers to pinpoint and compare estimated energy usage, building lot by building lot, throughout New York City.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 2/6

    Three States to Require Insurers to Disclose Climate-Change Response Plans, New York Times 2/2 California, New York and Washington have announced a new requirement for insurance companies to disclose their plans for responding to climate change risks. The new regulation expands a requirement already in place for the largest insurers in those states. While insurance companies…

  • MPA Student Complements Classroom Learning with Hydrofracking Policy Experience

    MPA Student Complements Classroom Learning with Hydrofracking Policy Experience

    “I had been very interested in hydrofracking before I started the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program, but really became passionate about the negative the environmental impacts of the practice through my workshop, which analyzed and created an implementation plan for the FRAC Act of 2011.” Josh Garrett, MPA-ESP Class of 2012 student,…

  • Climate Services: No need to wait for disasters to happen

    Climate Services: No need to wait for disasters to happen

    “We need climate information to be able to see disasters coming ahead of time, not just hours, but also weeks, months, and even decades in terms of trends.” — Maarten Van Aalst, the Director of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre talks about the importance of climate services for humanitarian operations planning and preparedness, for…

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 2/13

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 2/13

    Leak Offers Glimpse of Campaign Against Climate Science, New Global Deal on Climate Change, What’s Next for Renewable Energy in the Mediterranean?, Climate Change Increases Risk of Storm Surge, According to MIT Study

  • Extraordinary Support for Unprecedented Global Challenges

    Extraordinary Support for Unprecedented Global Challenges

    The Earth Institute’s annual donor report for fiscal year 2011 is now available in an interactive digital format. We remain committed to finding extraordinary support to unprecedented global challenges, many of which are outlined in this report. We have highlighted some of our innovative projects in research, policy, and education, as well as the partnerships…

  • What Darwin Saw

    What Darwin Saw

    Sir Charles Darwin realized that humanity is interwoven with nature, that all of life is in a state of constant flux. The empowerment of nature, made possible by Darwin’s integration of human life into the whole, and grounded in his lived experience and profound humility, is the foundation of modern ecology.

  • Data’s Power to Spur Environmental Progress

    Data’s Power to Spur Environmental Progress

    In January, 132 countries received their environmental report cards. The Environmental Performance Index has goaded leaders into action by letting them see their countries’ strengths and weaknesses compared to other countries.

  • Climate Services: A Regional Perspective

    Climate Services: A Regional Perspective

    “But we unfortunately are in one of the areas in which climate prediction is very difficult because we’re in the middle of two big oceans, and on the fringe between the interaction of Northern Hemisphere systems and Southern Hemisphere systems.” — Costa Rica’s Patricia Ramirez on the value of shared climate services across Central America…

  • Power Play: an Energy Map of New York City

    Power Play: an Energy Map of New York City

    A new interactive, color-coded map created by a team at Columbia’s engineering school allows viewers to pinpoint and compare estimated energy usage, building lot by building lot, throughout New York City.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 2/6

    Three States to Require Insurers to Disclose Climate-Change Response Plans, New York Times 2/2 California, New York and Washington have announced a new requirement for insurance companies to disclose their plans for responding to climate change risks. The new regulation expands a requirement already in place for the largest insurers in those states. While insurance companies…