State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Climate227

  • Smaller Colorado River Projected for Coming Decades, Study Says

    Smaller Colorado River Projected for Coming Decades, Study Says

    Some 40 million people depend on the Colorado River Basin for water but warmer weather from rising greenhouse gas levels and a growing population may signal water shortages ahead.

  • Role-Reversal (and Some Fun) at AGU

    Role-Reversal (and Some Fun) at AGU

    Francesco Fiondella is normally behind the scenes writing web stories, developing audio slideshows and videos for the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI). But at this year’s annual American Geophysical Union (AGU), the tables were turned for a brief moment. He was video ambushed by climate scientist Andrew Robertson and forced to explain…

  • Poor Ethiopian Farmers Receive ‘Unprecedented’ Insurance Payout

    Poor Ethiopian Farmers Receive ‘Unprecedented’ Insurance Payout

    Thanks to a groundbreaking new program that relies on advanced satellite technology, a weather index insurance payout of unprecedented scale will benefit poor African farmers.

  • A River Runs Through It: Predicting Floods in the Midwest

    A River Runs Through It: Predicting Floods in the Midwest

    Focusing on the American Midwest, Andrew Robertson analyzes the relationships between floods, weather and climate patters throughout the 20th century.

  • Clues from Last Ice Age May Hint at Drying Ahead for Some Regions

    Clues from Last Ice Age May Hint at Drying Ahead for Some Regions

    In the spectacular collapse of ice sheets as the last ice age ended about 18,000 years ago scientists hope to find clues for what regions may grow drier from human caused global warming. In a talk Thursday at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting, Aaron Putnam, a postdoctoral scholar at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, painted a…

  • How the Warming Arctic Affects Us All

    How the Warming Arctic Affects Us All

    The Arctic may seem remote, but the overall rate of global warming, our climate and weather, sea levels, and many ecosystems and species will be affected by the warming that is occurring there.

  • Tree Rings and Teachable Moments

    Tree Rings and Teachable Moments

    Nicole Davi, a postdoctoral scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society and the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, thinks tree rings are an ideal way to motivate students to collect and analyze data as well as to learn about climate change.

  • Improving the Water Outlook in the Himalayas

    Improving the Water Outlook in the Himalayas

    Andrew Robertson, a climate scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, discusses his research on helping reservoir managers in northern India make better planning decisions by improving their ability to predict how climate change will influence water availability.

  • Managing Hazard Risk and Weather Extremes at AGU

    Managing Hazard Risk and Weather Extremes at AGU

    Researchers from the Earth Institute’s Center for Research on Environmental Decisions will present their work at the 2012 American Geophysical Union Conference in San Francisco this week. Psychology doctoral candidate Katherine Thompson will present a poster entitled “The Psychology of Hazard Risk Perception”; and visiting research scholar Diana Reckien will present a poster entitled “Realities…

Collage of Turkiye beach scene and Columbia University Campus with text: UN Climate Change Conference COP31, Antalya, Turkiye, Nov 9-20, 2026

COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More

  • Smaller Colorado River Projected for Coming Decades, Study Says

    Smaller Colorado River Projected for Coming Decades, Study Says

    Some 40 million people depend on the Colorado River Basin for water but warmer weather from rising greenhouse gas levels and a growing population may signal water shortages ahead.

  • Role-Reversal (and Some Fun) at AGU

    Role-Reversal (and Some Fun) at AGU

    Francesco Fiondella is normally behind the scenes writing web stories, developing audio slideshows and videos for the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI). But at this year’s annual American Geophysical Union (AGU), the tables were turned for a brief moment. He was video ambushed by climate scientist Andrew Robertson and forced to explain…

  • Poor Ethiopian Farmers Receive ‘Unprecedented’ Insurance Payout

    Poor Ethiopian Farmers Receive ‘Unprecedented’ Insurance Payout

    Thanks to a groundbreaking new program that relies on advanced satellite technology, a weather index insurance payout of unprecedented scale will benefit poor African farmers.

  • A River Runs Through It: Predicting Floods in the Midwest

    A River Runs Through It: Predicting Floods in the Midwest

    Focusing on the American Midwest, Andrew Robertson analyzes the relationships between floods, weather and climate patters throughout the 20th century.

  • Clues from Last Ice Age May Hint at Drying Ahead for Some Regions

    Clues from Last Ice Age May Hint at Drying Ahead for Some Regions

    In the spectacular collapse of ice sheets as the last ice age ended about 18,000 years ago scientists hope to find clues for what regions may grow drier from human caused global warming. In a talk Thursday at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting, Aaron Putnam, a postdoctoral scholar at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, painted a…

  • How the Warming Arctic Affects Us All

    How the Warming Arctic Affects Us All

    The Arctic may seem remote, but the overall rate of global warming, our climate and weather, sea levels, and many ecosystems and species will be affected by the warming that is occurring there.

  • Tree Rings and Teachable Moments

    Tree Rings and Teachable Moments

    Nicole Davi, a postdoctoral scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society and the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, thinks tree rings are an ideal way to motivate students to collect and analyze data as well as to learn about climate change.

  • Improving the Water Outlook in the Himalayas

    Improving the Water Outlook in the Himalayas

    Andrew Robertson, a climate scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, discusses his research on helping reservoir managers in northern India make better planning decisions by improving their ability to predict how climate change will influence water availability.

  • Managing Hazard Risk and Weather Extremes at AGU

    Managing Hazard Risk and Weather Extremes at AGU

    Researchers from the Earth Institute’s Center for Research on Environmental Decisions will present their work at the 2012 American Geophysical Union Conference in San Francisco this week. Psychology doctoral candidate Katherine Thompson will present a poster entitled “The Psychology of Hazard Risk Perception”; and visiting research scholar Diana Reckien will present a poster entitled “Realities…