State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

201440

  • Coastal Erosion and Adaptation to Climate Change

    Coastal Erosion and Adaptation to Climate Change

    Increasing understanding of the extent of coastal erosion and its interaction with other naturally existing geographical features such as mangrove vegetation is one of the areas of research that may help reduce vulnerability of small-island developing states to climate hazards.

  • Latimeria Chalumnae

    Latimeria Chalumnae

    One in a series of poems based on science news, written by Katherine Allen, a researcher in geochemistry and paleoclimate at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • MS Alum Transitions to Sustainable Healthcare

    MS Alum Transitions to Sustainable Healthcare

    Lindsey Clark originally joined the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program with the intention of going into sustainability consulting after graduation, but an internship with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center led to an unexpected opportunity.

  • A Whole New Way of Seeing…Mantis Shrimp

    A Whole New Way of Seeing…Mantis Shrimp

    Mantis shrimp are marine crustaceans inhabiting the shallow sunlit waters of tropical seas, where they make a living as voracious ambush predators. This week in Science, new research sheds light on their fascinating visual system, and reveals a novel form of color vision, previously unknown in the animal kingdom.

  • Hundreds of Ways to Measure Sustainability

    Hundreds of Ways to Measure Sustainability

    Private companies and organizations in the public and non-profit sectors have begun to embrace the idea of sustainability: How to operate in ways that reduce consumption of water, energy and other resources, and help keep from depleting the planet’s natural resources. But how do we measure progress? Reliable metrics are needed – to understand what…

  • Latest Environmental Performance Index Introduces New Indicators

    Latest Environmental Performance Index Introduces New Indicators

    Innovations in the 2014 EPI include a new wastewater treatment indicator; a new approach to climate change indicators; and two new satellite-derived indicators for air quality and forests.

  • Earth’s Climate History, Written in Dust

    Earth’s Climate History, Written in Dust

    Dust blowing onto the oceans can help algae grow and pull CO2 out of the atmosphere. It influences the radiative balance of the planet by reflecting sunlight away. Scientists want to know what role this plays in the coming and going of the ice ages, and how it affects our climate.

  • The Noble Worm

    The Noble Worm

    A poem, first in a series based on what’s been in the news in science, from Katherine Allen, a researcher in geochemistry and paleoclimate at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • ESP Alum Leads Sandy Relief Efforts

    ESP Alum Leads Sandy Relief Efforts

    MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) alumnus Todd Miner (’10) has always been heavily involved in work at post-conflict and disaster areas, both abroad and in the United States. He puts the management and planning skills he acquired from the MPA-ESP program to good use in his current role as director of Friends of…

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

  • Coastal Erosion and Adaptation to Climate Change

    Coastal Erosion and Adaptation to Climate Change

    Increasing understanding of the extent of coastal erosion and its interaction with other naturally existing geographical features such as mangrove vegetation is one of the areas of research that may help reduce vulnerability of small-island developing states to climate hazards.

  • Latimeria Chalumnae

    Latimeria Chalumnae

    One in a series of poems based on science news, written by Katherine Allen, a researcher in geochemistry and paleoclimate at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • MS Alum Transitions to Sustainable Healthcare

    MS Alum Transitions to Sustainable Healthcare

    Lindsey Clark originally joined the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program with the intention of going into sustainability consulting after graduation, but an internship with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center led to an unexpected opportunity.

  • A Whole New Way of Seeing…Mantis Shrimp

    A Whole New Way of Seeing…Mantis Shrimp

    Mantis shrimp are marine crustaceans inhabiting the shallow sunlit waters of tropical seas, where they make a living as voracious ambush predators. This week in Science, new research sheds light on their fascinating visual system, and reveals a novel form of color vision, previously unknown in the animal kingdom.

  • Hundreds of Ways to Measure Sustainability

    Hundreds of Ways to Measure Sustainability

    Private companies and organizations in the public and non-profit sectors have begun to embrace the idea of sustainability: How to operate in ways that reduce consumption of water, energy and other resources, and help keep from depleting the planet’s natural resources. But how do we measure progress? Reliable metrics are needed – to understand what…

  • Latest Environmental Performance Index Introduces New Indicators

    Latest Environmental Performance Index Introduces New Indicators

    Innovations in the 2014 EPI include a new wastewater treatment indicator; a new approach to climate change indicators; and two new satellite-derived indicators for air quality and forests.

  • Earth’s Climate History, Written in Dust

    Earth’s Climate History, Written in Dust

    Dust blowing onto the oceans can help algae grow and pull CO2 out of the atmosphere. It influences the radiative balance of the planet by reflecting sunlight away. Scientists want to know what role this plays in the coming and going of the ice ages, and how it affects our climate.

  • The Noble Worm

    The Noble Worm

    A poem, first in a series based on what’s been in the news in science, from Katherine Allen, a researcher in geochemistry and paleoclimate at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • ESP Alum Leads Sandy Relief Efforts

    ESP Alum Leads Sandy Relief Efforts

    MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) alumnus Todd Miner (’10) has always been heavily involved in work at post-conflict and disaster areas, both abroad and in the United States. He puts the management and planning skills he acquired from the MPA-ESP program to good use in his current role as director of Friends of…