State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Climate270

  • Is Groundwater Depletion Causing Sea-level Rise?

    Is Groundwater Depletion Causing Sea-level Rise?

    A recent study from Yoshihide Wada and other researchers from Utrecht University attempted to assess the status of global groundwater depletion—that is, the amount of water that is being drawn out from underground reservoirs that is not being replaced by precipitation—and came up with some startling conclusions. Chief among them that depletion of groundwater may…

  • Climate News Roundup – Week of 11/05/2010

    Climate News Roundup – Week of 11/05/2010

    The Arctic Shifts to a New Climate Pattern in Which ‘Normal’ Becomes Obsolete, NY Times, Oct. 22 Record high temperatures in the Arctic this year is another sign that the troubling trend of ice cap disintegration, permafrost melting, and snow cover shrinking is becoming irreversible, according to a new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report.…

  • Upcoming Information Sessions: Master of Arts in Climate and Society

    Upcoming Information Sessions: Master of Arts in Climate and Society

    Join us at one of our two upcoming information sessions on November 18th and December 6th to learn more about the program, the application process, and to meet with faculty, current students, and alumni.

  • Risky Business 2: Municipal Bonds?

    Risky Business 2: Municipal Bonds?

    According to a recently released report, municipal bonds, which finance a large portion of the nation’s water utilities and infrastructure, may not carry ratings that reflect the growing pool of risk surrounding the nation’s water supply.

  • Columbia Engineers an Impact on Water Sustainability

    Columbia Engineers an Impact on Water Sustainability

    The most recent issue of the Columbia Engineering Magazine profiles many of the Columbia University Engineering faculty who are addressing the issues of sustainability in the water, climate and energy fields. Several of Columbia Water Center’s researchers and collaborators were featured. Here are some teasers that demonstrate the depth and breadth of the talent at…

  • Volcanoes Have Shifted Asian Rainfall

    Defying Models, Particles Make Some Regions Drier, Others Wetter

  • The New York DEP: A New Kind of Modeling Agency

    The New York DEP: A New Kind of Modeling Agency

    Last Friday, Don Pierson of the NY DEP gave a lecture at the Columbia Water Center as part of our Fall Seminar Series. The talk, entitled “A Project to Evaluate the Effects of Climate Change on the NYC Drinking Water Supply,” detailed the process behind current DEP efforts to model the possible effects of climate…

  • Who said what?  Answering Ross McKitrick’s “Response to Misinformation from Deutsche Bank,” Part II

    Who said what? Answering Ross McKitrick’s “Response to Misinformation from Deutsche Bank,” Part II

    Authors: Mary-Elena Carr; Kate Brash; Robert Anderson; Madeleine Rubenstein On September 8, 2010, Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisors (DBCCA) and the Columbia Climate Center (CCC) published a report entitled “Climate Change: Addressing the Major Skeptic Arguments,” which responds to the major claims of climate change skeptics. On September 13, 2010, Professor Ross McKitrick of the…

  • Sachs: ‘US Remains Trapped and Paralyzed on Climate Change’

    Sachs: ‘US Remains Trapped and Paralyzed on Climate Change’

    Jeffrey Sachs discusses the inaction and inability of the US to enact any meaningful climate legislation with future prospects growing dim with the changing of the guard in Congress after last week’s midterm elections.

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

  • Is Groundwater Depletion Causing Sea-level Rise?

    Is Groundwater Depletion Causing Sea-level Rise?

    A recent study from Yoshihide Wada and other researchers from Utrecht University attempted to assess the status of global groundwater depletion—that is, the amount of water that is being drawn out from underground reservoirs that is not being replaced by precipitation—and came up with some startling conclusions. Chief among them that depletion of groundwater may…

  • Climate News Roundup – Week of 11/05/2010

    Climate News Roundup – Week of 11/05/2010

    The Arctic Shifts to a New Climate Pattern in Which ‘Normal’ Becomes Obsolete, NY Times, Oct. 22 Record high temperatures in the Arctic this year is another sign that the troubling trend of ice cap disintegration, permafrost melting, and snow cover shrinking is becoming irreversible, according to a new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report.…

  • Upcoming Information Sessions: Master of Arts in Climate and Society

    Upcoming Information Sessions: Master of Arts in Climate and Society

    Join us at one of our two upcoming information sessions on November 18th and December 6th to learn more about the program, the application process, and to meet with faculty, current students, and alumni.

  • Risky Business 2: Municipal Bonds?

    Risky Business 2: Municipal Bonds?

    According to a recently released report, municipal bonds, which finance a large portion of the nation’s water utilities and infrastructure, may not carry ratings that reflect the growing pool of risk surrounding the nation’s water supply.

  • Columbia Engineers an Impact on Water Sustainability

    Columbia Engineers an Impact on Water Sustainability

    The most recent issue of the Columbia Engineering Magazine profiles many of the Columbia University Engineering faculty who are addressing the issues of sustainability in the water, climate and energy fields. Several of Columbia Water Center’s researchers and collaborators were featured. Here are some teasers that demonstrate the depth and breadth of the talent at…

  • Volcanoes Have Shifted Asian Rainfall

    Defying Models, Particles Make Some Regions Drier, Others Wetter

  • The New York DEP: A New Kind of Modeling Agency

    The New York DEP: A New Kind of Modeling Agency

    Last Friday, Don Pierson of the NY DEP gave a lecture at the Columbia Water Center as part of our Fall Seminar Series. The talk, entitled “A Project to Evaluate the Effects of Climate Change on the NYC Drinking Water Supply,” detailed the process behind current DEP efforts to model the possible effects of climate…

  • Who said what?  Answering Ross McKitrick’s “Response to Misinformation from Deutsche Bank,” Part II

    Who said what? Answering Ross McKitrick’s “Response to Misinformation from Deutsche Bank,” Part II

    Authors: Mary-Elena Carr; Kate Brash; Robert Anderson; Madeleine Rubenstein On September 8, 2010, Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisors (DBCCA) and the Columbia Climate Center (CCC) published a report entitled “Climate Change: Addressing the Major Skeptic Arguments,” which responds to the major claims of climate change skeptics. On September 13, 2010, Professor Ross McKitrick of the…

  • Sachs: ‘US Remains Trapped and Paralyzed on Climate Change’

    Sachs: ‘US Remains Trapped and Paralyzed on Climate Change’

    Jeffrey Sachs discusses the inaction and inability of the US to enact any meaningful climate legislation with future prospects growing dim with the changing of the guard in Congress after last week’s midterm elections.