State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Climate213

  • GHG Emissions From the Comfort of Home

    GHG Emissions From the Comfort of Home

    The residential home sector is the third largest contributor to GHG emissions when energy use is included. As the housing market is showing signs of recovery and new home construction is beginning to increase, there is opportunity to address the emissions from residential homes with green building techniques that will have the added benefit of…

  • Changing Temperatures, Extremes and Hydroclimate – Wednesday, March 13 at 4:00 pm

    The Earth Institute is pleased to present the fourth of the 2012-2013 Sustainable Development Seminar Series titled “Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Recent trends in temperatures, extremes and hydroclimate” tomorrow (Wednesday, March 13) from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Columbia University’s Low Library, Faculty Room. Please RSVP online to attend. Distinguished speakers will include: Gavin Schmidt, Deputy Chief,…

  • Study Predicts Lag in Summer Rains Over Parts of U.S. and Mexico

    Delay Could Affect Agriculture, Livestock, Desert Ecosystems

  • A New Primer on Sea Level

    A New Primer on Sea Level

    The threat of sea-level rise–actually, its ongoing reality–has been on many more minds since New York and surrounding areas were walloped during Hurricane Sandy by a record-high storm surge, abetted by a water level that has risen steadily over the last century. That level will keep rising if climate keeps warming, and so, probably, will…

  • Discussing Climate, Cities and Food

    Discussing Climate, Cities and Food

    Last week, the Earth Institute and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society hosted a discussion on cities, food and climate. What were people saying? Find out in this Storify recap of reactions from across Twitter!

  • Keeping Track: the State of the Planet

    Keeping Track: the State of the Planet

    Watch highlights of last October’s “State of the Planet” summit, which brought experts together to discuss the challenges of sustainable development, climate change and the environment, as well as some of the solutions.

  • Urban Agriculture and the Damage From Storm Sandy

    Urban Agriculture and the Damage From Storm Sandy

    Urban agriculture faces unique growing challenges due to the peculiarities of farming in a densely built environment. Storm Sandy highlighted additional challenges New York City farmers and gardeners must face as a result of increasingly extreme weather.

  • Extraordinary Support for Sustainable Development

    Extraordinary Support for Sustainable Development

    Visit the interactive digital Earth Institute 2012 Annual Donor Report to see some of the remarkable projects, initiatives and achievements that have been made possible through the support and advocacy of donors, students, faculty and staff in fiscal year 2012.

  • Making Sense of Climate’s Impact on Food Security

    Making Sense of Climate’s Impact on Food Security

    From warmer temperatures to natural disasters such as flooding and drought, changing patterns of climate are having billion-dollar impacts on our food-growing systems. But scientists are struggling to find ways to measure and predict what may happen in the future—and to translate that into policies to help feed a bulging world population.

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

  • GHG Emissions From the Comfort of Home

    GHG Emissions From the Comfort of Home

    The residential home sector is the third largest contributor to GHG emissions when energy use is included. As the housing market is showing signs of recovery and new home construction is beginning to increase, there is opportunity to address the emissions from residential homes with green building techniques that will have the added benefit of…

  • Changing Temperatures, Extremes and Hydroclimate – Wednesday, March 13 at 4:00 pm

    The Earth Institute is pleased to present the fourth of the 2012-2013 Sustainable Development Seminar Series titled “Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Recent trends in temperatures, extremes and hydroclimate” tomorrow (Wednesday, March 13) from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Columbia University’s Low Library, Faculty Room. Please RSVP online to attend. Distinguished speakers will include: Gavin Schmidt, Deputy Chief,…

  • Study Predicts Lag in Summer Rains Over Parts of U.S. and Mexico

    Delay Could Affect Agriculture, Livestock, Desert Ecosystems

  • A New Primer on Sea Level

    A New Primer on Sea Level

    The threat of sea-level rise–actually, its ongoing reality–has been on many more minds since New York and surrounding areas were walloped during Hurricane Sandy by a record-high storm surge, abetted by a water level that has risen steadily over the last century. That level will keep rising if climate keeps warming, and so, probably, will…

  • Discussing Climate, Cities and Food

    Discussing Climate, Cities and Food

    Last week, the Earth Institute and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society hosted a discussion on cities, food and climate. What were people saying? Find out in this Storify recap of reactions from across Twitter!

  • Keeping Track: the State of the Planet

    Keeping Track: the State of the Planet

    Watch highlights of last October’s “State of the Planet” summit, which brought experts together to discuss the challenges of sustainable development, climate change and the environment, as well as some of the solutions.

  • Urban Agriculture and the Damage From Storm Sandy

    Urban Agriculture and the Damage From Storm Sandy

    Urban agriculture faces unique growing challenges due to the peculiarities of farming in a densely built environment. Storm Sandy highlighted additional challenges New York City farmers and gardeners must face as a result of increasingly extreme weather.

  • Extraordinary Support for Sustainable Development

    Extraordinary Support for Sustainable Development

    Visit the interactive digital Earth Institute 2012 Annual Donor Report to see some of the remarkable projects, initiatives and achievements that have been made possible through the support and advocacy of donors, students, faculty and staff in fiscal year 2012.

  • Making Sense of Climate’s Impact on Food Security

    Making Sense of Climate’s Impact on Food Security

    From warmer temperatures to natural disasters such as flooding and drought, changing patterns of climate are having billion-dollar impacts on our food-growing systems. But scientists are struggling to find ways to measure and predict what may happen in the future—and to translate that into policies to help feed a bulging world population.