State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Climate233

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/04

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/04

    Climate Change May Kill OFF 900 Bird Species, Treehugger, Mar 7 Scientists say climate change is likely to drive up to 900 bird species into extinction by the end of the century unless additional conservation measures are taken. Tropical bird species are particularly vulnerable because they are adapted to living in a stable climate, where…

  • Climate Services: Bring In Many Perspectives, Early On

    Climate Services: Bring In Many Perspectives, Early On

    What’s a “climate service”? Depends on whom you ask, which is why it is crucial to bring as many different perspectives to the table, says Guy Brassuer, head of Germany’s Climate Service Center.

  • 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.

Colorful icons representing nature, sustainable living, and renewable energy with text "Earth Day 2026"

The first Earth Day in 1970 ignited a movement to stop polluting our planet. Today, our scientists and experts are tackling the most pressing challenges to achieve real-world impact. This Earth Day, join us in our commitment to realizing a just and sustainable future for our planet. Visit our Earth Day website for ideas, resources, and inspiration.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/04

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/04

    Climate Change May Kill OFF 900 Bird Species, Treehugger, Mar 7 Scientists say climate change is likely to drive up to 900 bird species into extinction by the end of the century unless additional conservation measures are taken. Tropical bird species are particularly vulnerable because they are adapted to living in a stable climate, where…

  • Climate Services: Bring In Many Perspectives, Early On

    Climate Services: Bring In Many Perspectives, Early On

    What’s a “climate service”? Depends on whom you ask, which is why it is crucial to bring as many different perspectives to the table, says Guy Brassuer, head of Germany’s Climate Service Center.

  • 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.