State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

General88

  • Dissolving the Future of Coral Reefs

    Dissolving the Future of Coral Reefs

    Coral reefs, some of the planet’s most beautiful and biodiverse ecosystems, face many natural and anthropogenic threats. Tremendous effort has gone into protecting and rehabilitating these reefs worldwide, but the mounting problem of ocean acidification has the potential to obliterate all progress made by marine scientists, conservationists, and policy-makers thus far.

  • Scientists Speak Out on Climate: Is Anyone Listening?

    Scientists Speak Out on Climate: Is Anyone Listening?

    In the light of recent varied efforts to focus public attention on the risks of climate change, we asked Earth Institute scientists what they want the public to understand about the issue and how they see their roles.

  • Student Research Showcase 2014

    Student Research Showcase 2014

    The Earth Institute, Columbia University was proud to support student research in the areas of environment and sustainable development at the annual Student Research Showcase on April 25, 2014. Student interns, research assistants and travel grant recipients, and their Faculty and Research Advisors, were honored for their research contributions that ranged in topics from biodiversity,…

  • Greenland Ice

    Greenland Ice

    If you went to Greenland, almost 80 North, And drilled your way down … a mile, then more, You’d find some strange layers, a story’d come forth A record of ice ages locked in a core.

  • In Haiti, Exploring What Drives People to Alter the Landscape

    In Haiti, Exploring What Drives People to Alter the Landscape

    Study of the Pedernales Watershed, located along Haiti’s southern national boundary with the Dominican Republic, may provide insights into the stark contrast in land cover patterns between the two countries.

  • Faculty Profile: Robin Bell

    Faculty Profile: Robin Bell

    For twenty years, Robin Elizabeth Bell has worked alongside a team of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory geophysics senior scientists and engineers to coordinate nine major aero-geophysical expeditions to Antarctica and Greenland in order to study ice sheet collapse. On these adventures, Bell’s discoveries have included a volcano beneath the West Antarctic ice sheet, several large lakes…

  • Aruba’s Sustainability Agenda

    Aruba’s Sustainability Agenda

    For many people, the island of Aruba probably generates images of Caribbean vacations and sunny beach resorts. However, those images should also include wind turbines, solar panels and renovated infrastructure, to capture the sustainability agenda that is moving Aruba towards a fossil fuel-free economy. Last week, Earth Institute Executive Director Steven Cohen hosted the prime…

  • MS Student Makes the Case for a More Sustainable Future

    MS Student Makes the Case for a More Sustainable Future

    Prior to joining the M.S. in Sustainability Management program, current student Mikael Amar was working for the corporate culture reform and strategic business development efforts for the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, the largest independent distributor of Toyota in the world. While working for ALJ, Mikael witnessed how the economic climate can negatively affect people’s willingness…

  • Strategies for a Hotter, Scarcer and More Open World

    Strategies for a Hotter, Scarcer and More Open World

    Author Andrew Winston will explore “the mega challenges of climate change, scarcity, and radical transparency that threaten our ability to run an expanding global economy and that are profoundly changing business as usual.” He will provide cause for optimism as he profiles leaders in the business community who are bringing value to society and positioning…

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!

  • Dissolving the Future of Coral Reefs

    Dissolving the Future of Coral Reefs

    Coral reefs, some of the planet’s most beautiful and biodiverse ecosystems, face many natural and anthropogenic threats. Tremendous effort has gone into protecting and rehabilitating these reefs worldwide, but the mounting problem of ocean acidification has the potential to obliterate all progress made by marine scientists, conservationists, and policy-makers thus far.

  • Scientists Speak Out on Climate: Is Anyone Listening?

    Scientists Speak Out on Climate: Is Anyone Listening?

    In the light of recent varied efforts to focus public attention on the risks of climate change, we asked Earth Institute scientists what they want the public to understand about the issue and how they see their roles.

  • Student Research Showcase 2014

    Student Research Showcase 2014

    The Earth Institute, Columbia University was proud to support student research in the areas of environment and sustainable development at the annual Student Research Showcase on April 25, 2014. Student interns, research assistants and travel grant recipients, and their Faculty and Research Advisors, were honored for their research contributions that ranged in topics from biodiversity,…

  • Greenland Ice

    Greenland Ice

    If you went to Greenland, almost 80 North, And drilled your way down … a mile, then more, You’d find some strange layers, a story’d come forth A record of ice ages locked in a core.

  • In Haiti, Exploring What Drives People to Alter the Landscape

    In Haiti, Exploring What Drives People to Alter the Landscape

    Study of the Pedernales Watershed, located along Haiti’s southern national boundary with the Dominican Republic, may provide insights into the stark contrast in land cover patterns between the two countries.

  • Faculty Profile: Robin Bell

    Faculty Profile: Robin Bell

    For twenty years, Robin Elizabeth Bell has worked alongside a team of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory geophysics senior scientists and engineers to coordinate nine major aero-geophysical expeditions to Antarctica and Greenland in order to study ice sheet collapse. On these adventures, Bell’s discoveries have included a volcano beneath the West Antarctic ice sheet, several large lakes…

  • Aruba’s Sustainability Agenda

    Aruba’s Sustainability Agenda

    For many people, the island of Aruba probably generates images of Caribbean vacations and sunny beach resorts. However, those images should also include wind turbines, solar panels and renovated infrastructure, to capture the sustainability agenda that is moving Aruba towards a fossil fuel-free economy. Last week, Earth Institute Executive Director Steven Cohen hosted the prime…

  • MS Student Makes the Case for a More Sustainable Future

    MS Student Makes the Case for a More Sustainable Future

    Prior to joining the M.S. in Sustainability Management program, current student Mikael Amar was working for the corporate culture reform and strategic business development efforts for the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, the largest independent distributor of Toyota in the world. While working for ALJ, Mikael witnessed how the economic climate can negatively affect people’s willingness…

  • Strategies for a Hotter, Scarcer and More Open World

    Strategies for a Hotter, Scarcer and More Open World

    Author Andrew Winston will explore “the mega challenges of climate change, scarcity, and radical transparency that threaten our ability to run an expanding global economy and that are profoundly changing business as usual.” He will provide cause for optimism as he profiles leaders in the business community who are bringing value to society and positioning…