State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Climate230

  • Plugging the Leaks in Climate Models

    Plugging the Leaks in Climate Models

    Independent quality controls for climate models are crucial for the quality of future climate change predictions. Not all models are equally good and should be utilized in climate impact studies for such things as crop yield and hydrology that are produced for far-reaching decision-making.

  • New York Roofs: Brighter, Whiter, Cooler

    New York Roofs: Brighter, Whiter, Cooler

    The results are in for the first study to systematically measure the effects of the city’s fledgling effort to introduce more reflective rooftops in order to reduce cooling costs and the overall heat burden on the city.

  • 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.

  • What Really Sways Public Opinion on Climate Change

    What Really Sways Public Opinion on Climate Change

    Being part of the Columbia Climate Center, which endeavors to improve public understanding of climate change as part of its mission, I was dismayed, but not surprised to read a study confirming that dissemination of scientific information on climate change to the public has a minimal effect on public opinion.  A recent analysis shows that…

  • Climate Services: Global Framework

    Climate Services: Global Framework

    Jerry Lengoasa, Deputy Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization — How do we bridge the gap between those who have the knowledge and those who don’t, those who have the capacity and those who don’t have the capacity, and the capability?

  • Ocean Acidification: Geologic Record Adds New Warning

    Ocean Acidification: Geologic Record Adds New Warning

    A new study in Science finds that the oceans may be acidifying faster today from industrial emissions than they did during four major extinctions in the last 300 million years when carbon levels spiked naturally.

  • Climate Services: A Private-Sector Perspective

    Climate Services: A Private-Sector Perspective

    For the private sector, climate services need to be framed in terms of business risks and drivers, says Jean-Cristophe Amado, Risk Manager at Acclimatise North America.

  • Ocean Acidification Rate May Be Unprecedented, Study Says

    Few Parallels in 300-Million Year Geologic Record

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

  • Plugging the Leaks in Climate Models

    Plugging the Leaks in Climate Models

    Independent quality controls for climate models are crucial for the quality of future climate change predictions. Not all models are equally good and should be utilized in climate impact studies for such things as crop yield and hydrology that are produced for far-reaching decision-making.

  • New York Roofs: Brighter, Whiter, Cooler

    New York Roofs: Brighter, Whiter, Cooler

    The results are in for the first study to systematically measure the effects of the city’s fledgling effort to introduce more reflective rooftops in order to reduce cooling costs and the overall heat burden on the city.

  • 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.

  • What Really Sways Public Opinion on Climate Change

    What Really Sways Public Opinion on Climate Change

    Being part of the Columbia Climate Center, which endeavors to improve public understanding of climate change as part of its mission, I was dismayed, but not surprised to read a study confirming that dissemination of scientific information on climate change to the public has a minimal effect on public opinion.  A recent analysis shows that…

  • Climate Services: Global Framework

    Climate Services: Global Framework

    Jerry Lengoasa, Deputy Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization — How do we bridge the gap between those who have the knowledge and those who don’t, those who have the capacity and those who don’t have the capacity, and the capability?

  • Ocean Acidification: Geologic Record Adds New Warning

    Ocean Acidification: Geologic Record Adds New Warning

    A new study in Science finds that the oceans may be acidifying faster today from industrial emissions than they did during four major extinctions in the last 300 million years when carbon levels spiked naturally.

  • Climate Services: A Private-Sector Perspective

    Climate Services: A Private-Sector Perspective

    For the private sector, climate services need to be framed in terms of business risks and drivers, says Jean-Cristophe Amado, Risk Manager at Acclimatise North America.

  • Ocean Acidification Rate May Be Unprecedented, Study Says

    Few Parallels in 300-Million Year Geologic Record