State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Climate254

  • Setting up camp 184 miles from the South Pole

    Setting up camp 184 miles from the South Pole

    Our field team flies from McMurdo to their first base camp, named CTAM, which stands for Central Transantarctic Mountains. This camp is set up by the US National Science Foundation every 5 to 10 years, with input from scientists on the cutting edge research that can be done in the region.

  • Michigan Case Demonstrates Growing Importance of Courts for Water Issues

    Michigan Case Demonstrates Growing Importance of Courts for Water Issues

    According to a recent report by Deutsche Bank, the number of US lawsuits related directly or indirectly to climate change rose by nearly 300% between 2009 and 2010. In addition to cases focused more broadly on climate change, there have also been a growing number of cases focused specifically on water regulations. Examples of the…

  • Hope for Biofuels in ‘Oilgae’?

    Hope for Biofuels in ‘Oilgae’?

    With growing concern over the ethics and efficiency of first generation biofuels (see here), interest has increased in third generation, or algal, biofuels. Some, however, question the technology’s real-world potential, and call publicity surrounding investments in the technology, such as this Exxon Mobil TV commercial, “green-washing.” To help properly assess the debate, here’s an overview…

  • La Niña Rolls On

    La Niña Rolls On

    The current moderate-to-strong La Niña is expected to continue through at least the middle of spring, said forecasters at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society’s monthly climate briefing.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 1/16

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 1/16

    For Many Species, No Escape as Temperature Rises, New York Times, Jan. 21 Adding to existing stressors from deforestation and habitat loss, climate change is expected to further harm populations of mountain dwelling animals. While other species traditionally seek higher elevation in response to warming, mountains species cannot do so, as they are limited by…

  • Survival training in Antarctica – aka Happy Camper

    Survival training in Antarctica – aka Happy Camper

    Mike Kaplan and Nicole Bader, first-timers in Antarctica, report from taking their basic survival training at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, aka ‘Happy Campers’

  • The Worsening Water Crisis in Gujarat, India

    The Worsening Water Crisis in Gujarat, India

    For more than three decades, the farmers in Northern Gujarat State, in India, have produced abundant food crops, and have had a thriving dairy industry. In order to make that happen, they have been using once plentiful underground water resources. Because local aquifers are being replenished more slowly than the water is being withdrawn, groundwater…

  • 2010 Tied As Hottest Year, Say U.S. Researchers

    Two Separate Analyses Add Evidence of Long-Term Warming

  • Floods and Coal – The Water-Energy Nexus Redux

    Floods and Coal – The Water-Energy Nexus Redux

    Beyond the human toll, the floods in Australia have other repercussions, the most notable being the effect on the global coal market. According to Reuters, “Australia’s $50 billion coal export industry has been brought to a virtual standstill”.

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

  • Setting up camp 184 miles from the South Pole

    Setting up camp 184 miles from the South Pole

    Our field team flies from McMurdo to their first base camp, named CTAM, which stands for Central Transantarctic Mountains. This camp is set up by the US National Science Foundation every 5 to 10 years, with input from scientists on the cutting edge research that can be done in the region.

  • Michigan Case Demonstrates Growing Importance of Courts for Water Issues

    Michigan Case Demonstrates Growing Importance of Courts for Water Issues

    According to a recent report by Deutsche Bank, the number of US lawsuits related directly or indirectly to climate change rose by nearly 300% between 2009 and 2010. In addition to cases focused more broadly on climate change, there have also been a growing number of cases focused specifically on water regulations. Examples of the…

  • Hope for Biofuels in ‘Oilgae’?

    Hope for Biofuels in ‘Oilgae’?

    With growing concern over the ethics and efficiency of first generation biofuels (see here), interest has increased in third generation, or algal, biofuels. Some, however, question the technology’s real-world potential, and call publicity surrounding investments in the technology, such as this Exxon Mobil TV commercial, “green-washing.” To help properly assess the debate, here’s an overview…

  • La Niña Rolls On

    La Niña Rolls On

    The current moderate-to-strong La Niña is expected to continue through at least the middle of spring, said forecasters at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society’s monthly climate briefing.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 1/16

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 1/16

    For Many Species, No Escape as Temperature Rises, New York Times, Jan. 21 Adding to existing stressors from deforestation and habitat loss, climate change is expected to further harm populations of mountain dwelling animals. While other species traditionally seek higher elevation in response to warming, mountains species cannot do so, as they are limited by…

  • Survival training in Antarctica – aka Happy Camper

    Survival training in Antarctica – aka Happy Camper

    Mike Kaplan and Nicole Bader, first-timers in Antarctica, report from taking their basic survival training at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, aka ‘Happy Campers’

  • The Worsening Water Crisis in Gujarat, India

    The Worsening Water Crisis in Gujarat, India

    For more than three decades, the farmers in Northern Gujarat State, in India, have produced abundant food crops, and have had a thriving dairy industry. In order to make that happen, they have been using once plentiful underground water resources. Because local aquifers are being replenished more slowly than the water is being withdrawn, groundwater…

  • 2010 Tied As Hottest Year, Say U.S. Researchers

    Two Separate Analyses Add Evidence of Long-Term Warming

  • Floods and Coal – The Water-Energy Nexus Redux

    Floods and Coal – The Water-Energy Nexus Redux

    Beyond the human toll, the floods in Australia have other repercussions, the most notable being the effect on the global coal market. According to Reuters, “Australia’s $50 billion coal export industry has been brought to a virtual standstill”.