State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Author: Francesco Fiondella8


  • Climate Scientist to Lead International Research Institute for Climate and Society

    Climate Scientist to Lead International Research Institute for Climate and Society

    Lisa Goddard, a leading expert on climate change and El Niño’s influence on climate has been appointed director of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, part of Columbia University’s Earth Institute.

  • Photo Essay: In the Heart of Dryness

    Photo Essay: In the Heart of Dryness

    Explore the country of Niger in this visual essay while learning about the importance of seasonal forecasting to the Sahel, one of the poorest and most climate-vulnerable regions in the world.

  • Decadal Prediction: The New Kid On the Block

    Decadal Prediction: The New Kid On the Block

    Research on decadal prediction—what the climate is going to be like a decade or two from now—is still relatively new and experimental. It’s also in high demand by planners and decision makers interested in building dams and other large-scale development projects. In a new paper, IRI’s Lisa Goddard and colleagues discuss how decadal prediction research…

  • Video: Is Drought In East Africa The New Normal?

    Video: Is Drought In East Africa The New Normal?

    A video interview with climate scientist Bradfield Lyon, who explains his latest research on what’s driving rainfall patterns in parts of East Africa.

  • Spring Sprang Early: Should We Worry?

    Spring Sprang Early: Should We Worry?

    While studies do show that flowers and other plants are blooming earlier on average because of warming trends, this year’s early fireworks were “certainly well within the realm of experience for the species native to this area,” says Robert Naczi of the New York Botanical Garden.

  • More Food Insecurity Expected in Horn of Africa

    More Food Insecurity Expected in Horn of Africa

    The current rainy season in the Horn of Africa is off to a poor start, and fear of famine once again looms large for the region.

  • Climate Services: Power in Numbers

    Climate Services: Power in Numbers

    Many countries and organizations are already investing in climate services, says IRI’s Steve Zebiak. What has been missing until recently is a central platform for capturing experiences and sharing best practices–enter the Climate Services Partnership.

  • Climate Services: Bring In Many Perspectives, Early On

    Climate Services: Bring In Many Perspectives, Early On

    What’s a “climate service”? Depends on whom you ask, which is why it is crucial to bring as many different perspectives to the table, says Guy Brassuer, head of Germany’s Climate Service Center.

  • A Model for Improving Climate Services in Africa

    A Model for Improving Climate Services in Africa

    A groundbreaking set of new online climate data maps for Ethiopia gives users free access to 30 years of rainfall and temperature data for the entire country at the click of a button. This is unprecedented anywhere in Africa.

  • Climate Scientist to Lead International Research Institute for Climate and Society

    Climate Scientist to Lead International Research Institute for Climate and Society

    Lisa Goddard, a leading expert on climate change and El Niño’s influence on climate has been appointed director of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, part of Columbia University’s Earth Institute.

  • Photo Essay: In the Heart of Dryness

    Photo Essay: In the Heart of Dryness

    Explore the country of Niger in this visual essay while learning about the importance of seasonal forecasting to the Sahel, one of the poorest and most climate-vulnerable regions in the world.

  • Decadal Prediction: The New Kid On the Block

    Decadal Prediction: The New Kid On the Block

    Research on decadal prediction—what the climate is going to be like a decade or two from now—is still relatively new and experimental. It’s also in high demand by planners and decision makers interested in building dams and other large-scale development projects. In a new paper, IRI’s Lisa Goddard and colleagues discuss how decadal prediction research…

  • Video: Is Drought In East Africa The New Normal?

    Video: Is Drought In East Africa The New Normal?

    A video interview with climate scientist Bradfield Lyon, who explains his latest research on what’s driving rainfall patterns in parts of East Africa.

  • Spring Sprang Early: Should We Worry?

    Spring Sprang Early: Should We Worry?

    While studies do show that flowers and other plants are blooming earlier on average because of warming trends, this year’s early fireworks were “certainly well within the realm of experience for the species native to this area,” says Robert Naczi of the New York Botanical Garden.

  • More Food Insecurity Expected in Horn of Africa

    More Food Insecurity Expected in Horn of Africa

    The current rainy season in the Horn of Africa is off to a poor start, and fear of famine once again looms large for the region.

  • Climate Services: Power in Numbers

    Climate Services: Power in Numbers

    Many countries and organizations are already investing in climate services, says IRI’s Steve Zebiak. What has been missing until recently is a central platform for capturing experiences and sharing best practices–enter the Climate Services Partnership.

  • Climate Services: Bring In Many Perspectives, Early On

    Climate Services: Bring In Many Perspectives, Early On

    What’s a “climate service”? Depends on whom you ask, which is why it is crucial to bring as many different perspectives to the table, says Guy Brassuer, head of Germany’s Climate Service Center.

  • A Model for Improving Climate Services in Africa

    A Model for Improving Climate Services in Africa

    A groundbreaking set of new online climate data maps for Ethiopia gives users free access to 30 years of rainfall and temperature data for the entire country at the click of a button. This is unprecedented anywhere in Africa.