State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Agriculture37

  • 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.

  • The Sundarbans

    The Sundarbans

    After finally reaching the Mongla and our boat, we settled into our new home. It is a similar design, but much larger than the one we used in September. As we ate dinner and explored the ship, it started the overnight journey to the southeastern part of the Sundarbans where the wildlife is most plentiful.…

  • Finding the Link Between Water Stress and Food Prices

    Finding the Link Between Water Stress and Food Prices

    Over the past decade, average global food prices have more than doubled, with 2008 and 2010 seeing excruciating price spikes that each had far-reaching economic, geopolitical and social consequences.

  • Rivers and the Road

    Rivers and the Road

    We spent a day on the islands (chars) in the Brahmaputra River seeing the geology and talking to the residents. Then after an evening of feasting and dancing in our new Saris and lungis, we hit the road for the trip to the Sundarbans.

  • Facing the Food and Water Challenges of the Future

    Facing the Food and Water Challenges of the Future

    The global population, now 7 billion, is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050 and will require 70 percent more food than we are producing today, and much more water for agriculture, drinking and industry. Will we have enough water to meet the demand?

  • Class Trip – to Bangladesh

    Class Trip – to Bangladesh

    To help my students in a class on hazards of Bangladesh better understand the country, I am taking them there to experience Bangladesh for themselves.

  • The Groundwater Crisis and the “Grass that Grows in the Water”

    The Groundwater Crisis and the “Grass that Grows in the Water”

    Rice is the world’s third-largest crop after wheat and corn; by some estimates it accounts for fully one-fifth of the total calories consumed by the human race. Given these facts, it’s not surprising that countries that have historically struggled with devastating famine would do whatever it takes to ensure strong production of the grain, even…

  • One Planet, Too Many People?

    One Planet, Too Many People?

    Can we manage the needs of 9 billion people for water, food and energy without depleting our resources and ruining the environment? “The solutions,” says Tim Fox, “are all within the capability of existing technology.”

  • 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 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.

  • The Sundarbans

    The Sundarbans

    After finally reaching the Mongla and our boat, we settled into our new home. It is a similar design, but much larger than the one we used in September. As we ate dinner and explored the ship, it started the overnight journey to the southeastern part of the Sundarbans where the wildlife is most plentiful.…

  • Finding the Link Between Water Stress and Food Prices

    Finding the Link Between Water Stress and Food Prices

    Over the past decade, average global food prices have more than doubled, with 2008 and 2010 seeing excruciating price spikes that each had far-reaching economic, geopolitical and social consequences.

  • Rivers and the Road

    Rivers and the Road

    We spent a day on the islands (chars) in the Brahmaputra River seeing the geology and talking to the residents. Then after an evening of feasting and dancing in our new Saris and lungis, we hit the road for the trip to the Sundarbans.

  • Facing the Food and Water Challenges of the Future

    Facing the Food and Water Challenges of the Future

    The global population, now 7 billion, is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050 and will require 70 percent more food than we are producing today, and much more water for agriculture, drinking and industry. Will we have enough water to meet the demand?

  • Class Trip – to Bangladesh

    Class Trip – to Bangladesh

    To help my students in a class on hazards of Bangladesh better understand the country, I am taking them there to experience Bangladesh for themselves.

  • The Groundwater Crisis and the “Grass that Grows in the Water”

    The Groundwater Crisis and the “Grass that Grows in the Water”

    Rice is the world’s third-largest crop after wheat and corn; by some estimates it accounts for fully one-fifth of the total calories consumed by the human race. Given these facts, it’s not surprising that countries that have historically struggled with devastating famine would do whatever it takes to ensure strong production of the grain, even…

  • One Planet, Too Many People?

    One Planet, Too Many People?

    Can we manage the needs of 9 billion people for water, food and energy without depleting our resources and ruining the environment? “The solutions,” says Tim Fox, “are all within the capability of existing technology.”

  • 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.