Author: Columbia Climate School47

Movement to End Poverty Goes Urban in Africa

Sustainable development demands that two disparate systems — urban and rural — equally meet the needs of their inhabitants without overburdening natural resources. The sustainability of agriculturally based villages, for example, depends on the health and well being of cities for access to large markets and services. Put simply, the sustainable development of one requires…
Tough Environmental Policy Question? Bring in the MPAs

One hundred million personal computers were disposed of in 2004, and they are not benign — computers contain hazardous materials harmful to human health and the environment, and no policy exists to manage this e-waste. Is anyone working on this problem? Bring in the MPAs. This semester, a group studying to get their Masters’ in…
Could Reducing Global Dimming Mean a Hotter, Dryer World?

Despite concerns over global warming, scientists have discovered something that may have actually limited the impact of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in recent years by reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the surface of the Earth. In research they published last year in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, a team led by Beate Liepert…
Despite Complexities, Test for TB Could Increase Rapid Diagnoses in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa shoulders 27 percent of the 8 million new annual tuberculosis cases. The current diagnostic for TB (Acid-fast Smear) used in much of Africa only works in half of all cases, leaving millions of people without treatment and many more susceptible to infection. Yanis Ben Amor, an Earth Institute Fellow, is hoping to reverse…
Breaking the Bottlenecks to Fighting Malaria in Africa

Imagine drawing up the blueprints to save millions of lives, yet without the means or the currency to make those plans a reality. This is a fundamental problem faced by many countries ravaged by malaria, which kills an estimated 3 million annually. Countries are formulating robust and achievable plans to effectively prevent and treat malaria,…
Earth Institute, Recycling Company Partnership Offers Win-Win Solutions

The Earth Engineering Center (EEC) at the Earth Institute at Columbia University has helped to launch a company that uses an innovative rewards system to increase household recycling. The company, RecycleBank, operates under the belief that recycling rates go up when people are paid to recycle. With this new program, residents use a recycling bin…
Does Access to Public Transportation Increase Property Values?

Student researcher examines bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Bogota, Colombia
Glacial Earthquakes Point to Rising Temperatures in Greenland

Rise of seismic activity linked to the movement of glaciers may be a response to global warming
Study Offers Preview of Ice Sheet Melting, Rapid Climate Changes

Behavior of Scandinavian Ice Sheet at the end of the last Ice Age may preview loss of Greenland Ice Sheet due to global warming

Movement to End Poverty Goes Urban in Africa

Sustainable development demands that two disparate systems — urban and rural — equally meet the needs of their inhabitants without overburdening natural resources. The sustainability of agriculturally based villages, for example, depends on the health and well being of cities for access to large markets and services. Put simply, the sustainable development of one requires…
Tough Environmental Policy Question? Bring in the MPAs

One hundred million personal computers were disposed of in 2004, and they are not benign — computers contain hazardous materials harmful to human health and the environment, and no policy exists to manage this e-waste. Is anyone working on this problem? Bring in the MPAs. This semester, a group studying to get their Masters’ in…
Could Reducing Global Dimming Mean a Hotter, Dryer World?

Despite concerns over global warming, scientists have discovered something that may have actually limited the impact of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in recent years by reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the surface of the Earth. In research they published last year in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, a team led by Beate Liepert…
Despite Complexities, Test for TB Could Increase Rapid Diagnoses in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa shoulders 27 percent of the 8 million new annual tuberculosis cases. The current diagnostic for TB (Acid-fast Smear) used in much of Africa only works in half of all cases, leaving millions of people without treatment and many more susceptible to infection. Yanis Ben Amor, an Earth Institute Fellow, is hoping to reverse…
Breaking the Bottlenecks to Fighting Malaria in Africa

Imagine drawing up the blueprints to save millions of lives, yet without the means or the currency to make those plans a reality. This is a fundamental problem faced by many countries ravaged by malaria, which kills an estimated 3 million annually. Countries are formulating robust and achievable plans to effectively prevent and treat malaria,…
Earth Institute, Recycling Company Partnership Offers Win-Win Solutions

The Earth Engineering Center (EEC) at the Earth Institute at Columbia University has helped to launch a company that uses an innovative rewards system to increase household recycling. The company, RecycleBank, operates under the belief that recycling rates go up when people are paid to recycle. With this new program, residents use a recycling bin…
Does Access to Public Transportation Increase Property Values?

Student researcher examines bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Bogota, Colombia
Glacial Earthquakes Point to Rising Temperatures in Greenland

Rise of seismic activity linked to the movement of glaciers may be a response to global warming
Study Offers Preview of Ice Sheet Melting, Rapid Climate Changes

Behavior of Scandinavian Ice Sheet at the end of the last Ice Age may preview loss of Greenland Ice Sheet due to global warming