State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

201535

  • Faculty Profile: Joel Cohen

    Faculty Profile: Joel Cohen

    It has been a long time since humans thought of themselves as the prey of other species. But when Joel Cohen summarizes his research, it makes a person think twice about his or her comfortable perch at the top of the food chain. “I focus on human relations with the species we eat (agriculture) and…

  • Earth Institute Annual Fund Update

    To date, we have seen an increase in donations of over 100 percent from the entirety of 2013. These gifts have come in from all over the world, spanning 32 countries and representing interest in diverse areas of research. Our donors have shown their passion for and dedication to the work we do here at…

  • Federal Dysfunction Continues to Underfund Science and Infrastructure

    In a time when the global economy places us in constant competition with other nations, our inability to forge effective public-private partnerships may well be the greatest long-term threat to America’s economic and political power.

  • New Program Designed to Keep Kids in School in Uganda

    New Program Designed to Keep Kids in School in Uganda

    Though many more children throughout the world are attending primary school since the Millennium Development Goals were adopted 15 years ago, in order to sustain the success, increasing matriculation and improving attendance in secondary schools are essential.

  • U.S. Drought Risk Wider than Previously Thought

    U.S. Drought Risk Wider than Previously Thought

    New research from the Columbia Water Center suggests that many more places in the United States are at risk of drought-induced water stress than is commonly thought, including dense metropolitan regions such as New York City and Washington, D.C.

  • MESSENGER

    MESSENGER

    Alien orbits you plied, While we vicariously spied A distant globe …

  • Smooth Sailing Back to Tasmania

    Smooth Sailing Back to Tasmania

    After a surprisingly smooth crossing of the Southern Ocean, with favorable winds we arrived back in Hobart, Tasmania. The weather maps show that we just got ahead of another big storm system.

  • Beijing Program to Tackle Energy, Environmental Issues

    Beijing Program to Tackle Energy, Environmental Issues

    The Earth Institute is taking an extra step to contribute to China’s environmental future by sponsoring the first Beijing Week on Energy and Environment, a week-long program this summer for emerging leaders and professionals in the fields of energy and environment.

  • Capstone Project Prepares Alum for Energy Efficiency Career

    Capstone Project Prepares Alum for Energy Efficiency Career

    Sustainability Management alumna Marisa Hanson (’14) has gone from working on a capstone workshop project to design a national building retrofit program for Montenegro to a role as program specialist for a residential energy efficiency program in Santa Barbara, CA. Marisa has focused her sustainability career on making a significant difference on a local level.

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

  • Faculty Profile: Joel Cohen

    Faculty Profile: Joel Cohen

    It has been a long time since humans thought of themselves as the prey of other species. But when Joel Cohen summarizes his research, it makes a person think twice about his or her comfortable perch at the top of the food chain. “I focus on human relations with the species we eat (agriculture) and…

  • Earth Institute Annual Fund Update

    To date, we have seen an increase in donations of over 100 percent from the entirety of 2013. These gifts have come in from all over the world, spanning 32 countries and representing interest in diverse areas of research. Our donors have shown their passion for and dedication to the work we do here at…

  • Federal Dysfunction Continues to Underfund Science and Infrastructure

    In a time when the global economy places us in constant competition with other nations, our inability to forge effective public-private partnerships may well be the greatest long-term threat to America’s economic and political power.

  • New Program Designed to Keep Kids in School in Uganda

    New Program Designed to Keep Kids in School in Uganda

    Though many more children throughout the world are attending primary school since the Millennium Development Goals were adopted 15 years ago, in order to sustain the success, increasing matriculation and improving attendance in secondary schools are essential.

  • U.S. Drought Risk Wider than Previously Thought

    U.S. Drought Risk Wider than Previously Thought

    New research from the Columbia Water Center suggests that many more places in the United States are at risk of drought-induced water stress than is commonly thought, including dense metropolitan regions such as New York City and Washington, D.C.

  • MESSENGER

    MESSENGER

    Alien orbits you plied, While we vicariously spied A distant globe …

  • Smooth Sailing Back to Tasmania

    Smooth Sailing Back to Tasmania

    After a surprisingly smooth crossing of the Southern Ocean, with favorable winds we arrived back in Hobart, Tasmania. The weather maps show that we just got ahead of another big storm system.

  • Beijing Program to Tackle Energy, Environmental Issues

    Beijing Program to Tackle Energy, Environmental Issues

    The Earth Institute is taking an extra step to contribute to China’s environmental future by sponsoring the first Beijing Week on Energy and Environment, a week-long program this summer for emerging leaders and professionals in the fields of energy and environment.

  • Capstone Project Prepares Alum for Energy Efficiency Career

    Capstone Project Prepares Alum for Energy Efficiency Career

    Sustainability Management alumna Marisa Hanson (’14) has gone from working on a capstone workshop project to design a national building retrofit program for Montenegro to a role as program specialist for a residential energy efficiency program in Santa Barbara, CA. Marisa has focused her sustainability career on making a significant difference on a local level.