State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Health45

  • A Year of Progress Toward a Sustainable Earth

    A Year of Progress Toward a Sustainable Earth

    The Earth Institute’s annual donor report is now available in an interactive digital format. We remain committed to finding extraordinary solutions to unprecedented world challenges, and this report highlights some of our innovative projects in research, policy and education, and the partnerships that are helping to support them.

  • Earth Institute Receives $1 Million From MacArthur Foundation for Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative

    Earth Institute Receives $1 Million From MacArthur Foundation for Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative

    NEW YORK, September 1 – The Earth Institute, Columbia University is pleased to announce a $1 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to help improve the health of mothers and children in poor, rural communities within the Millennium Villages project (MVP). These funds will support activities to increase access to…

  • The Earth Institute Raises $3.8 Million to Support the Millennium Cities Initiative

    The Earth Institute Raises $3.8 Million to Support the Millennium Cities Initiative

    The Earth Institute successfully completed a $1.9 million landmark challenge grant, awarded by the Tides Foundation, to benefit the Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI). Because of the Tides challenge and our generous donors, a total of $3.8 million has been raised to support the project’s work to help targeted mid-sized cities across sub-Saharan Africa promote sustainable…

  • Model District Health Project Aims to Reach 600 Million in India

    Model District Health Project Aims to Reach 600 Million in India

    The country’s first model district health project has been launched in the Morigaon district of Assam.

  • MCI’s MDG Heroes Series: Physicians for Peace’s Ron Sconyers Helps Millennium Cities Attain Health-Related MDGs

    MCI’s MDG Heroes Series: Physicians for Peace’s Ron Sconyers Helps Millennium Cities Attain Health-Related MDGs

    Since 2006, Physicians for Peace (PfP), a U.S. based non-profit focused on providing health care training and education to developing countries, has been working with the Millennium Cities Initiative to help the Millennium Cities in their efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals. Under the leadership of Brigadier General Ron Sconyers, PfP has shipped containers…

  • Over $1m in New Commitments to Support Earth Institute Work

    Over $1m in New Commitments to Support Earth Institute Work

    Today, two of the world’s leading companies announce grants and technical support totaling more than $1,000,000 aimed at ending global poverty by 2015.

  • Nestlé Supports Earth Institute Food and Nutrition Systems Within the Millennium Villages Project

    Nestlé Supports Earth Institute Food and Nutrition Systems Within the Millennium Villages Project

    New York, September 21 – Today, Nestlé pledged a two-year, $400,000 grant to support food and nutrition system initiatives led by the Earth Institute, Columbia University, within the Millennium Villages project. Funds will be used to advance progress towards eliminating hunger, increasing food security, and achieving the nutrition-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the 14…

  • Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development Partners with the Earth Institute to Advance Technology to Help Achieve the MDGs for Health

    Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development Partners with the Earth Institute to Advance Technology to Help Achieve the MDGs for Health

    New York, September 21 – The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development and the Earth Institute, Columbia University today announced a new partnership in support of the Ghana Telemedicine Project, a pilot to use the latest in information and communications technology to improve point-of-service health care services in the Millennium Village of Bonsaaso, Ghana. With this…

  • Useless Condoms and the Trap of HIV-sensitization

    Useless Condoms and the Trap of HIV-sensitization

    In Ruhiira, Uganda, one of 14 clusters of Millennium Villages across sub-Saharan Africa, combating HIV, including Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT), through sensitization campaigns, condoms, and antiretrovirals (ARVs) is only half the battle. Addressing the other half—a deeply ingrained culture of female disempowerment— is an unavoidable challenge, which is dangerously neglected. The victimization of females…

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

  • A Year of Progress Toward a Sustainable Earth

    A Year of Progress Toward a Sustainable Earth

    The Earth Institute’s annual donor report is now available in an interactive digital format. We remain committed to finding extraordinary solutions to unprecedented world challenges, and this report highlights some of our innovative projects in research, policy and education, and the partnerships that are helping to support them.

  • Earth Institute Receives $1 Million From MacArthur Foundation for Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative

    Earth Institute Receives $1 Million From MacArthur Foundation for Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative

    NEW YORK, September 1 – The Earth Institute, Columbia University is pleased to announce a $1 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to help improve the health of mothers and children in poor, rural communities within the Millennium Villages project (MVP). These funds will support activities to increase access to…

  • The Earth Institute Raises $3.8 Million to Support the Millennium Cities Initiative

    The Earth Institute Raises $3.8 Million to Support the Millennium Cities Initiative

    The Earth Institute successfully completed a $1.9 million landmark challenge grant, awarded by the Tides Foundation, to benefit the Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI). Because of the Tides challenge and our generous donors, a total of $3.8 million has been raised to support the project’s work to help targeted mid-sized cities across sub-Saharan Africa promote sustainable…

  • Model District Health Project Aims to Reach 600 Million in India

    Model District Health Project Aims to Reach 600 Million in India

    The country’s first model district health project has been launched in the Morigaon district of Assam.

  • MCI’s MDG Heroes Series: Physicians for Peace’s Ron Sconyers Helps Millennium Cities Attain Health-Related MDGs

    MCI’s MDG Heroes Series: Physicians for Peace’s Ron Sconyers Helps Millennium Cities Attain Health-Related MDGs

    Since 2006, Physicians for Peace (PfP), a U.S. based non-profit focused on providing health care training and education to developing countries, has been working with the Millennium Cities Initiative to help the Millennium Cities in their efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals. Under the leadership of Brigadier General Ron Sconyers, PfP has shipped containers…

  • Over $1m in New Commitments to Support Earth Institute Work

    Over $1m in New Commitments to Support Earth Institute Work

    Today, two of the world’s leading companies announce grants and technical support totaling more than $1,000,000 aimed at ending global poverty by 2015.

  • Nestlé Supports Earth Institute Food and Nutrition Systems Within the Millennium Villages Project

    Nestlé Supports Earth Institute Food and Nutrition Systems Within the Millennium Villages Project

    New York, September 21 – Today, Nestlé pledged a two-year, $400,000 grant to support food and nutrition system initiatives led by the Earth Institute, Columbia University, within the Millennium Villages project. Funds will be used to advance progress towards eliminating hunger, increasing food security, and achieving the nutrition-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the 14…

  • Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development Partners with the Earth Institute to Advance Technology to Help Achieve the MDGs for Health

    Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development Partners with the Earth Institute to Advance Technology to Help Achieve the MDGs for Health

    New York, September 21 – The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development and the Earth Institute, Columbia University today announced a new partnership in support of the Ghana Telemedicine Project, a pilot to use the latest in information and communications technology to improve point-of-service health care services in the Millennium Village of Bonsaaso, Ghana. With this…

  • Useless Condoms and the Trap of HIV-sensitization

    Useless Condoms and the Trap of HIV-sensitization

    In Ruhiira, Uganda, one of 14 clusters of Millennium Villages across sub-Saharan Africa, combating HIV, including Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT), through sensitization campaigns, condoms, and antiretrovirals (ARVs) is only half the battle. Addressing the other half—a deeply ingrained culture of female disempowerment— is an unavoidable challenge, which is dangerously neglected. The victimization of females…