State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

General63

  • Say Goodbye to Styrofoam

    Say Goodbye to Styrofoam

    On July 1, single-use styrofoam products will cease to be in circulation in New York City due to a new regulation. The ban, which will be implemented in all five boroughs, will require that no manufacturer or business sell, give or use any single-use styrofoam product including coffee cups, foam trays and packing materials like…

  • Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development

    Every year, the Clinton Global Initiative, in partnership with the Hult Business School, organizes a social entrepreneurship start-up competition challenging students to address the world’s toughest problems. Winners of the prize receive $1 million in seed capital to launch their start-up, as well as membership to Hult’s start-up incubator.

  • New Summer Course Tackles Environmental Sustainability in the Middle East

    New Summer Course Tackles Environmental Sustainability in the Middle East

    Environmental issues know no boundaries. These problems transcend national borders and the solution to them lies in a collaborative approach to the management of shared natural resources. A clear example can be found in the Middle East and, this summer, a new field study course will take 10 Columbia University students to Jordan and Israel…

  • Record Numbers at the Annual All Ivy Sustainability Career Fair

    Record Numbers at the Annual All Ivy Sustainability Career Fair

    The Annual All Ivy Environmental and Sustainable Development Career Fair brought in a record number of recruiters and students last Friday, making it the largest and most successful fair in the event’s 12-year history.

  • MS Student Work Inspired by Waste Management

    MS Student Work Inspired by Waste Management

    Current Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Agustina Besada was inspired to work in sustainability because of her interest in waste management. “I always found it interesting how materials generate so much waste during their processing and transportation and knew that this system had the potential to be more efficient,” Agustina says. Agustina’s…

  • Faculty Profile: Peter Schlosser

    Faculty Profile: Peter Schlosser

    As the deputy director and director of research at the Earth Institute, Columbia University, Peter Schlosser plays an active role in developing interdisciplinary research on sustainable development—in addition to conducting his own research, teaching, designing courses and publishing regularly. For several decades, Peter Schlosser has been one of the world’s leading earth scientists. His research…

  • Student Profile: Shravya Jain

    Student Profile: Shravya Jain

    With several years of journalism experience in her native India, MPA ESP candidate Shravya Jain, came to Columbia to learn more about energy and sustainability policies in order to become a policy leader specializing in design, advocacy and negotiation. During her time in the program, Shravya has gained invaluable management experience working with her fellow…

  • The Most Astonishing Thing

    The Most Astonishing Thing

    The most astonishing thing about the universe, in my eyes, Is not merely its gargantuan, unfathomable size, But the way its vastness ferries gorgeous, primordial light, So that as we look up into the night, The farther afield our gaze penetrates, the higher we climb, The farther we can see back in time.

  • Initiative on Extreme Weather and Climate Kick-Off

    Initiative on Extreme Weather and Climate Kick-Off

    This week marks the launch of the new Columbia Initiative on Extreme Weather and Climate, a cross-disciplinary collaboration between a variety of centers, research groups and individuals from across Columbia University. The Initiative, led by Adam Sobel, kicked off on Monday evening with a World Leaders Forum panel event in Low Library. Panelists discussed a…

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

  • Say Goodbye to Styrofoam

    Say Goodbye to Styrofoam

    On July 1, single-use styrofoam products will cease to be in circulation in New York City due to a new regulation. The ban, which will be implemented in all five boroughs, will require that no manufacturer or business sell, give or use any single-use styrofoam product including coffee cups, foam trays and packing materials like…

  • Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development

    Every year, the Clinton Global Initiative, in partnership with the Hult Business School, organizes a social entrepreneurship start-up competition challenging students to address the world’s toughest problems. Winners of the prize receive $1 million in seed capital to launch their start-up, as well as membership to Hult’s start-up incubator.

  • New Summer Course Tackles Environmental Sustainability in the Middle East

    New Summer Course Tackles Environmental Sustainability in the Middle East

    Environmental issues know no boundaries. These problems transcend national borders and the solution to them lies in a collaborative approach to the management of shared natural resources. A clear example can be found in the Middle East and, this summer, a new field study course will take 10 Columbia University students to Jordan and Israel…

  • Record Numbers at the Annual All Ivy Sustainability Career Fair

    Record Numbers at the Annual All Ivy Sustainability Career Fair

    The Annual All Ivy Environmental and Sustainable Development Career Fair brought in a record number of recruiters and students last Friday, making it the largest and most successful fair in the event’s 12-year history.

  • MS Student Work Inspired by Waste Management

    MS Student Work Inspired by Waste Management

    Current Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Agustina Besada was inspired to work in sustainability because of her interest in waste management. “I always found it interesting how materials generate so much waste during their processing and transportation and knew that this system had the potential to be more efficient,” Agustina says. Agustina’s…

  • Faculty Profile: Peter Schlosser

    Faculty Profile: Peter Schlosser

    As the deputy director and director of research at the Earth Institute, Columbia University, Peter Schlosser plays an active role in developing interdisciplinary research on sustainable development—in addition to conducting his own research, teaching, designing courses and publishing regularly. For several decades, Peter Schlosser has been one of the world’s leading earth scientists. His research…

  • Student Profile: Shravya Jain

    Student Profile: Shravya Jain

    With several years of journalism experience in her native India, MPA ESP candidate Shravya Jain, came to Columbia to learn more about energy and sustainability policies in order to become a policy leader specializing in design, advocacy and negotiation. During her time in the program, Shravya has gained invaluable management experience working with her fellow…

  • The Most Astonishing Thing

    The Most Astonishing Thing

    The most astonishing thing about the universe, in my eyes, Is not merely its gargantuan, unfathomable size, But the way its vastness ferries gorgeous, primordial light, So that as we look up into the night, The farther afield our gaze penetrates, the higher we climb, The farther we can see back in time.

  • Initiative on Extreme Weather and Climate Kick-Off

    Initiative on Extreme Weather and Climate Kick-Off

    This week marks the launch of the new Columbia Initiative on Extreme Weather and Climate, a cross-disciplinary collaboration between a variety of centers, research groups and individuals from across Columbia University. The Initiative, led by Adam Sobel, kicked off on Monday evening with a World Leaders Forum panel event in Low Library. Panelists discussed a…