Ecology
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What Really Happened on Easter Island? Ancient Sediments Rewrite the “Ecocide” Story
A new study challenges long-held narratives of societal “collapse,” instead showing that Rapanui communities adapted to profound climate stress with resilience and innovation.
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A New Study Indicates Forest Regeneration Provides Climate Benefits, but Won’t Offset Fossil Fuels
Effective climate policy must treat forest regeneration and emissions reductions as complementary strategies, not alternatives, according to a new paper.
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Archaeologist Kristina Douglass Named 2025 MacArthur Fellow
Douglass’s research uses lessons from the past to help communities understand how to adapt to climate change.
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Ripple Effects: Water, Youth and Climate Action
The Columbia Climate School will host the Ripple Effects: Water in a Warming World pre-college virtual workshop in fall 2025.
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Exploring Essential Ecosystems for a Thriving Urban Future
MPA-ESP students traveled through the Bronx to learn about why urban rivers, wetlands and forests are crucial to the future of our cities.
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What Does It Mean for Soil To Be Healthy?
Yushu Xia’s research bridges field-based science and advanced modeling to inform more resilient land management strategies that benefit farmers, ranchers, communities and the planet.
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Tiny Giants: Marine Microbes’ Pivotal Role in the Ocean’s Future
These “invisible” organisms are key to the question of how much carbon the ocean can hold.
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Gen Z Leads the Call for Conservation With TreeTalks
Two MPA-ESP students hosted a film screening and discussion on rainforest conservation and the role of young people in shaping its future.
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Alumni Spotlight: Advancing Ocean Governance Through Research, Policy and Diplomacy
Since graduating from the MPA-ESP program, Jeremy Raguain’s work has focused on ocean conservation and marine biodiversity.
During COP30—the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference taking place November 10–21 in Belém, Brazil—experts from Columbia Climate School and Columbia University will be contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More
