State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

General85

  • Houston Honors Jeffrey Sachs

    Houston Honors Jeffrey Sachs

    The city of Houston honored Jeffrey Sachs on Tuesday proclaiming May 27, 2014 as “Dr. Jeffrey Sachs Day” for his work in the field of sustainable development.

  • Unexpected Sisters

    Unexpected Sisters

    An ancient island’s trove of treasure: Madagascan fauna Tenrec, fossa, lemur, hippo, dugong, bat, iguana. A giant bird – O, wondrous beast! – a half a ton, and tall, Laid foot-long eggs, had beefy legs, and did not fly at all.

  • Denning to Receive Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching

    Denning to Receive Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching

    Professor Glenn Denning, director of the School of International and Public Affairs’ MPA in Development Practice program, will receive a Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching from Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger at the University’s commencement ceremony on May 21.

  • Weak Underbelly

    Weak Underbelly

    Antarctica’s uncertain fuse, A “weak underbelly,” said Hughes. Pine Island and Thwaites, Thrown open, the gates? As humans, what path should we choose?

  • Climate Change’s Bottom Line

    Climate Change’s Bottom Line

    In the face of climate change, companies cannot continue to do “business as usual.” The risks and challenges of the changing climate threaten the bottom line, but also offer unprecedented opportunities.

  • Capstone Projects Address Real Sustainability Challenges

    Capstone Projects Address Real Sustainability Challenges

    Students from the Earth Institute’s Sustainability Management and Environmental Science and Policy master’s programs once again demonstrated the broad range of applications for interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development in their Spring 2014 team capstone projects. The projects provided analysis and recommendations to a range of clients on diverse, real-world sustainability challenges.

  • A Renewing Interest in Energy

    A Renewing Interest in Energy

    Should Ozgur Sahin, associate professor of biological sciences and physics of Columbia University, continue expanding upon his work in researching how the tiny movements of microbes can be harnessed to create electrical and mechanical energy, it may pave the way for a world fueled by bacterial spores.

  • The New World

    The New World

    On a man in the mountains, dusk falls; Shadows seep upward and spread. Scaling the black, chiseled walls, He silently seeks the dead.

  • 3 Reports Bring a Wake-Up Call: Change the Conversation

    3 Reports Bring a Wake-Up Call: Change the Conversation

    Three scientific reports echo the message that climate change and its impacts are here and now, with more to come. So how to change the conversation to reach beyond the already informed and connect to a much larger population?

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

  • Houston Honors Jeffrey Sachs

    Houston Honors Jeffrey Sachs

    The city of Houston honored Jeffrey Sachs on Tuesday proclaiming May 27, 2014 as “Dr. Jeffrey Sachs Day” for his work in the field of sustainable development.

  • Unexpected Sisters

    Unexpected Sisters

    An ancient island’s trove of treasure: Madagascan fauna Tenrec, fossa, lemur, hippo, dugong, bat, iguana. A giant bird – O, wondrous beast! – a half a ton, and tall, Laid foot-long eggs, had beefy legs, and did not fly at all.

  • Denning to Receive Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching

    Denning to Receive Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching

    Professor Glenn Denning, director of the School of International and Public Affairs’ MPA in Development Practice program, will receive a Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching from Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger at the University’s commencement ceremony on May 21.

  • Weak Underbelly

    Weak Underbelly

    Antarctica’s uncertain fuse, A “weak underbelly,” said Hughes. Pine Island and Thwaites, Thrown open, the gates? As humans, what path should we choose?

  • Climate Change’s Bottom Line

    Climate Change’s Bottom Line

    In the face of climate change, companies cannot continue to do “business as usual.” The risks and challenges of the changing climate threaten the bottom line, but also offer unprecedented opportunities.

  • Capstone Projects Address Real Sustainability Challenges

    Capstone Projects Address Real Sustainability Challenges

    Students from the Earth Institute’s Sustainability Management and Environmental Science and Policy master’s programs once again demonstrated the broad range of applications for interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development in their Spring 2014 team capstone projects. The projects provided analysis and recommendations to a range of clients on diverse, real-world sustainability challenges.

  • A Renewing Interest in Energy

    A Renewing Interest in Energy

    Should Ozgur Sahin, associate professor of biological sciences and physics of Columbia University, continue expanding upon his work in researching how the tiny movements of microbes can be harnessed to create electrical and mechanical energy, it may pave the way for a world fueled by bacterial spores.

  • The New World

    The New World

    On a man in the mountains, dusk falls; Shadows seep upward and spread. Scaling the black, chiseled walls, He silently seeks the dead.

  • 3 Reports Bring a Wake-Up Call: Change the Conversation

    3 Reports Bring a Wake-Up Call: Change the Conversation

    Three scientific reports echo the message that climate change and its impacts are here and now, with more to come. So how to change the conversation to reach beyond the already informed and connect to a much larger population?