State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

General59

  • Lamont-Doherty to Manage U.S. Ocean Drilling Program

    Lamont-Doherty to Manage U.S. Ocean Drilling Program

    Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory has signed a $35 million, five-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. National Science Foundation to manage scientific support services for U.S. scientists studying the world’s ocean floors.

  • Why Happiness Is Important

    Why Happiness Is Important

    The World Happiness Report 2015 measures and ranks the happiness of individuals in 158 countries around the globe. Which countries are the happiest and why?

  • Goddard Institute to Aid Search for Life on Distant Worlds

    Goddard Institute to Aid Search for Life on Distant Worlds

    Despite its name, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies has in recent years concentrated on planet Earth–mainly, its widely used computer models used by scientists around the world to measure and predict the impact of greenhouse gases on climate. This week NASA announced that the Earth Institute-affiliated center will also play a leading role…

  • As a Leading Environmental Organization Closes, Its Leader is Upbeat

    As a Leading Environmental Organization Closes, Its Leader is Upbeat

    Lester Brown, the global environmental leader, turned 81 this year and is closing The Earth Policy Institute, the environmental research organization he founded in 2001. His new book “The Great Transition” asserts that the world is shifting from fossil fuels to solar and wind energy.

  • Lamont-Doherty Strategic Plan

    Lamont-Doherty Strategic Plan

    Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory has been a leader in the study of our planet since its founding 65 years ago. Today, Observatory scientists continue the institution’s long tradition of addressing important questions in the Earth and planetary sciences. 

  • Ceres President Mindy Lubber to Talk on Sustainable Finance

    Ceres President Mindy Lubber to Talk on Sustainable Finance

    Sustainable investment leader Mindy S. Lubber, president of the Boston-based Ceres, will speak on “Using the Tools of the System to Sustain the Planet” at a special Earth Day class session on April 22.

  • An Earth Epic

    An Earth Epic

    I hear that the Archean Earth Spewed lava and was hot, (While much later, “Snowball Earth,” Apparently was not), Some have said that life sprung out of Spreading-ridge-type stew, Photosynthesis seems likely Based on carbon records, too.

  • In the Ice

    In the Ice

    Several days ago we reached our main work areas along the margin of East Antarctica. Our expedition is relatively late in the season and the seas around Antarctica are starting to freeze.

  • ESP Alum Works to Bring Better Environmental Standards to Oil and Gas Industry

    ESP Alum Works to Bring Better Environmental Standards to Oil and Gas Industry

    Josh Garrett, a 2012 graduate of the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program, serves as the Director of Communications for Equitable Origin, a firm based in New York. Through his work with Equitable Origin (or EO), Josh works to educate people about how to transform the oil industry for a safer, cleaner future.

Blue banner with kids and Earth photos. Text: "Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House, Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10am-4pm.

On Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 10am to 4pm, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House—our biggest, best science fun and discovery event of the year—will take place on our beautiful campus in Palisades, NY. Mark your calendar and join us for this free, family-friendly celebration of science! RSVP Today!

  • Lamont-Doherty to Manage U.S. Ocean Drilling Program

    Lamont-Doherty to Manage U.S. Ocean Drilling Program

    Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory has signed a $35 million, five-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. National Science Foundation to manage scientific support services for U.S. scientists studying the world’s ocean floors.

  • Why Happiness Is Important

    Why Happiness Is Important

    The World Happiness Report 2015 measures and ranks the happiness of individuals in 158 countries around the globe. Which countries are the happiest and why?

  • Goddard Institute to Aid Search for Life on Distant Worlds

    Goddard Institute to Aid Search for Life on Distant Worlds

    Despite its name, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies has in recent years concentrated on planet Earth–mainly, its widely used computer models used by scientists around the world to measure and predict the impact of greenhouse gases on climate. This week NASA announced that the Earth Institute-affiliated center will also play a leading role…

  • As a Leading Environmental Organization Closes, Its Leader is Upbeat

    As a Leading Environmental Organization Closes, Its Leader is Upbeat

    Lester Brown, the global environmental leader, turned 81 this year and is closing The Earth Policy Institute, the environmental research organization he founded in 2001. His new book “The Great Transition” asserts that the world is shifting from fossil fuels to solar and wind energy.

  • Lamont-Doherty Strategic Plan

    Lamont-Doherty Strategic Plan

    Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory has been a leader in the study of our planet since its founding 65 years ago. Today, Observatory scientists continue the institution’s long tradition of addressing important questions in the Earth and planetary sciences. 

  • Ceres President Mindy Lubber to Talk on Sustainable Finance

    Ceres President Mindy Lubber to Talk on Sustainable Finance

    Sustainable investment leader Mindy S. Lubber, president of the Boston-based Ceres, will speak on “Using the Tools of the System to Sustain the Planet” at a special Earth Day class session on April 22.

  • An Earth Epic

    An Earth Epic

    I hear that the Archean Earth Spewed lava and was hot, (While much later, “Snowball Earth,” Apparently was not), Some have said that life sprung out of Spreading-ridge-type stew, Photosynthesis seems likely Based on carbon records, too.

  • In the Ice

    In the Ice

    Several days ago we reached our main work areas along the margin of East Antarctica. Our expedition is relatively late in the season and the seas around Antarctica are starting to freeze.

  • ESP Alum Works to Bring Better Environmental Standards to Oil and Gas Industry

    ESP Alum Works to Bring Better Environmental Standards to Oil and Gas Industry

    Josh Garrett, a 2012 graduate of the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program, serves as the Director of Communications for Equitable Origin, a firm based in New York. Through his work with Equitable Origin (or EO), Josh works to educate people about how to transform the oil industry for a safer, cleaner future.