State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Author: Steven Cohen41


  • Resisting the Deregulation of Environmental Protection

    Resisting the Deregulation of Environmental Protection

    Today we have an EPA Administrator who is willfully and aggressively deregulating elements of environmental protection. We need to resist federal cutbacks in environmental protection policies and programs, while also continuing to keep our eye on the daily, operational tasks of creating sustainable economy.

  • The Importance of Immigration to American Independence

    The Importance of Immigration to American Independence

    America didn’t declare independence in 1776 to hide from the world, but to establish a free society. A positive, welcoming approach to immigration is a key part of our relationship with the global economy.

  • Understanding Today’s Climate Politics

    Understanding Today’s Climate Politics

    The climate problem will be made less bad by technological, cultural, social and economic change that will force political change. Waiting for policy to be the change agent is an exercise in futility.

  • Trump’s Attack on Renewable Energy

    Trump’s Attack on Renewable Energy

    The companies that develop cheaper and more reliable renewable energy and energy storage technologies will drive fossil fuel companies from the marketplace. Since Trump’s team won’t help, let’s convince them to end their attack on renewable energy and stay out of the way of the change that is on the way.

  • It’s Time for New York to Save its Mass Transit System

    It’s Time for New York to Save its Mass Transit System

    The economic heart of the city cannot beat without an effective subway system. It’s time for the mayor and governor to develop a fully funded, well thought through strategy for mass transit in New York City and its nearby suburbs.

  • We’ll Always Have Paris: Trump’s Impact on the Climate Agreement

    We’ll Always Have Paris: Trump’s Impact on the Climate Agreement

    While we still do not know the long-term impact of President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, the short-term impact has been to mobilize a broad segment of the U.S. and global public in support of the agreement.

  • Trump’s Relevance on Climate Change

    Trump’s Relevance on Climate Change

    While Fortune 500 companies, our state and local governments, and foreign countries are all beginning the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the current U.S. federal government refuses to see the danger of climate change or the economic opportunities presented by modernizing our energy system.

  • The Evolution of Sustainability Education

    The Evolution of Sustainability Education

    The most fundamental evolution of the field from environmental policy to sustainability management is that our profession is no longer limited to advocates, lobbyists and policy makers, but now includes entrepreneurs, green financiers, builders, managers and owners.

  • A Small Senate Victory Maintains Methane Regulation

    A Small Senate Victory Maintains Methane Regulation

    While I see little hope of modernizing the environmental regulatory structure under the current regime, last week provided some hope that the U.S. Senate won’t allow our environmental laws to be dismantled.

  • Resisting the Deregulation of Environmental Protection

    Resisting the Deregulation of Environmental Protection

    Today we have an EPA Administrator who is willfully and aggressively deregulating elements of environmental protection. We need to resist federal cutbacks in environmental protection policies and programs, while also continuing to keep our eye on the daily, operational tasks of creating sustainable economy.

  • The Importance of Immigration to American Independence

    The Importance of Immigration to American Independence

    America didn’t declare independence in 1776 to hide from the world, but to establish a free society. A positive, welcoming approach to immigration is a key part of our relationship with the global economy.

  • Understanding Today’s Climate Politics

    Understanding Today’s Climate Politics

    The climate problem will be made less bad by technological, cultural, social and economic change that will force political change. Waiting for policy to be the change agent is an exercise in futility.

  • Trump’s Attack on Renewable Energy

    Trump’s Attack on Renewable Energy

    The companies that develop cheaper and more reliable renewable energy and energy storage technologies will drive fossil fuel companies from the marketplace. Since Trump’s team won’t help, let’s convince them to end their attack on renewable energy and stay out of the way of the change that is on the way.

  • It’s Time for New York to Save its Mass Transit System

    It’s Time for New York to Save its Mass Transit System

    The economic heart of the city cannot beat without an effective subway system. It’s time for the mayor and governor to develop a fully funded, well thought through strategy for mass transit in New York City and its nearby suburbs.

  • We’ll Always Have Paris: Trump’s Impact on the Climate Agreement

    We’ll Always Have Paris: Trump’s Impact on the Climate Agreement

    While we still do not know the long-term impact of President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, the short-term impact has been to mobilize a broad segment of the U.S. and global public in support of the agreement.

  • Trump’s Relevance on Climate Change

    Trump’s Relevance on Climate Change

    While Fortune 500 companies, our state and local governments, and foreign countries are all beginning the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the current U.S. federal government refuses to see the danger of climate change or the economic opportunities presented by modernizing our energy system.

  • The Evolution of Sustainability Education

    The Evolution of Sustainability Education

    The most fundamental evolution of the field from environmental policy to sustainability management is that our profession is no longer limited to advocates, lobbyists and policy makers, but now includes entrepreneurs, green financiers, builders, managers and owners.

  • A Small Senate Victory Maintains Methane Regulation

    A Small Senate Victory Maintains Methane Regulation

    While I see little hope of modernizing the environmental regulatory structure under the current regime, last week provided some hope that the U.S. Senate won’t allow our environmental laws to be dismantled.