State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Energy40

  • Student ‘Aquanauts’ to Tackle Water Issues

    Student ‘Aquanauts’ to Tackle Water Issues

    “We would like to take on international problems, problems of development, problems in the United States, but have them done with academic content and interest. Instead of people being sent to random places, we would take engineering companies that have an interest in a particular region in solving a problem, and they would bring the…

  • A Controversy: Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale

    A Controversy: Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale

    The organic-rich source rock of the Marcellus Shale is an on-going target for massive gas extraction. Advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, have made this extensive area of Marcellus black shale one of the largest unconventional and widely controversial gas operations in the United States today.

  • 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.”

  • Indian Point: Safe, Secure and Vital or an Unacceptable Risk?

    Indian Point: Safe, Secure and Vital or an Unacceptable Risk?

    The owners of Indian Point nuclear power plant want to re-license the facility for 20 years. Opponents say the plant is unsafe and we can do without its electricity. Supporters say it’s safe, and we need the power.

  • Putting Wind in Trade’s Sails

    Putting Wind in Trade’s Sails

    International maritime trade represents a unique example of global cooperation. With the help of a growing number of renewable energy technologies, the global community can work towards progress in this limited area and use it as a model for addressing emissions in other areas of the global economy.

  • Fixing Climate: Beyond Carbon Dioxide

    Fixing Climate: Beyond Carbon Dioxide

    Climate scientists at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science this week were elated to hear that the United States and five other countries had agreed to work toward cutting pollutants other than carbon dioxide thought to cause about a third of current human-influenced global warming. After all, many of them…

  • Energy Efficiency: A Great (But Dull) Way to Save

    Energy Efficiency: A Great (But Dull) Way to Save

    Cutting energy use in a home or small business can save consumers plenty of money, so how come more private citizens aren’t doing it? Speakers at an Earth Institute-sponsored panel said in part it’s because the information people need is not accessible enough.

  • U.S., 5 Nations to Cut Methane, Soot Emissions

    U.S., 5 Nations to Cut Methane, Soot Emissions

    The United States and five other countries agreed this week to fund an effort to cut emissions of methane, soot and other pollutants to start to slow the rate of human-induced climate change.

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

  • Student ‘Aquanauts’ to Tackle Water Issues

    Student ‘Aquanauts’ to Tackle Water Issues

    “We would like to take on international problems, problems of development, problems in the United States, but have them done with academic content and interest. Instead of people being sent to random places, we would take engineering companies that have an interest in a particular region in solving a problem, and they would bring the…

  • A Controversy: Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale

    A Controversy: Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale

    The organic-rich source rock of the Marcellus Shale is an on-going target for massive gas extraction. Advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, have made this extensive area of Marcellus black shale one of the largest unconventional and widely controversial gas operations in the United States today.

  • 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.”

  • Indian Point: Safe, Secure and Vital or an Unacceptable Risk?

    Indian Point: Safe, Secure and Vital or an Unacceptable Risk?

    The owners of Indian Point nuclear power plant want to re-license the facility for 20 years. Opponents say the plant is unsafe and we can do without its electricity. Supporters say it’s safe, and we need the power.

  • Putting Wind in Trade’s Sails

    Putting Wind in Trade’s Sails

    International maritime trade represents a unique example of global cooperation. With the help of a growing number of renewable energy technologies, the global community can work towards progress in this limited area and use it as a model for addressing emissions in other areas of the global economy.

  • Fixing Climate: Beyond Carbon Dioxide

    Fixing Climate: Beyond Carbon Dioxide

    Climate scientists at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science this week were elated to hear that the United States and five other countries had agreed to work toward cutting pollutants other than carbon dioxide thought to cause about a third of current human-influenced global warming. After all, many of them…

  • Energy Efficiency: A Great (But Dull) Way to Save

    Energy Efficiency: A Great (But Dull) Way to Save

    Cutting energy use in a home or small business can save consumers plenty of money, so how come more private citizens aren’t doing it? Speakers at an Earth Institute-sponsored panel said in part it’s because the information people need is not accessible enough.

  • U.S., 5 Nations to Cut Methane, Soot Emissions

    U.S., 5 Nations to Cut Methane, Soot Emissions

    The United States and five other countries agreed this week to fund an effort to cut emissions of methane, soot and other pollutants to start to slow the rate of human-induced climate change.