State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Poverty / Development24

  • IKEA Foundation Pledges $2.5 Million to Earth Institute Project in India

    IKEA Foundation Pledges $2.5 Million to Earth Institute Project in India

    In partnership with Earth Institute researchers, the IKEA Foundation has pledged over $2.5 million to help improve the quality of education through pilot projects in two Indian states.

  • 2 Earth Institute Centers Join Forces

    The Earth Institute today announced that beginning Oct. 1, the Center for Global Health and Economic Development (CGHED) would migrate its staff and projects to the Earth Institute’s Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development.

  • Breaking the Poverty Trap in Ethiopia: Subsistence, Satellites, and Some Other Important Stuff

    Breaking the Poverty Trap in Ethiopia: Subsistence, Satellites, and Some Other Important Stuff

    Two acres of cracked earth. In northern Ethiopia, it can be a trap that keeps farmers tethered to it for generations. Or it can be a springboard to a better life for this and future generations. What impedes it from showing its springier qualities? You could argue the biggest pressure on the land comes from…

  • Internship Opportunities with the Earth Institute Director’s Office

    The Office of the Director of the Earth Institute is offering two internship opportunities: One is the Administrations, Communications, and Research Internship, and the other the Communications, Research, Writing and Event-Planning Internship. The deadline to apply is Sept. 14.

  • From Birmingham to Bamako: How Farmers Deal with Drought

    From Birmingham to Bamako: How Farmers Deal with Drought

    A look at the tools and technologies farmers in Mali use to enhance their decision making in the face of droughts and other climate risks.

  • Rio 2016 Olympics: Another Reason to Watch Brazil’s Rise

    Rio 2016 Olympics: Another Reason to Watch Brazil’s Rise

    If public-private partnerships are essential to successfully carrying out the Olympics and using it to catalyze positive change for the host city, then Rio could have an important advantage for hosting the games in 2016.

  • London Olympics: How the Games Help Urban Development

    London Olympics: How the Games Help Urban Development

    The Olympics symbolize unity and friendship: The whole world comes together for the Games, playing by the same rules, honoring the same Olympian spirit of excellence and fair play. But today’s Olympics are notable for another type of collaboration—between the public and private sectors.

  • Forecasting Climate’s Effects on Global Food Production

    Forecasting Climate’s Effects on Global Food Production

    The worst drought to hit the U.S. in decades has already brought corn yields to a 17-year low and will almost certainly raise food prices. Wealth will soften the blow in the U.S., but in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, prolonged drought has often had deadly consequences. Is there a better way to anticipate climate’s…

  • Cities Are Where the Action Is, Post-Rio

    Cities Are Where the Action Is, Post-Rio

    Representatives of the worlds’ cities came to Rio in June for a series of events focused on the problems pressing in on the burgeoning urban population. Mayors around the world already are working on solutions and came out of Rio with concrete commitments for the future.

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

  • IKEA Foundation Pledges $2.5 Million to Earth Institute Project in India

    IKEA Foundation Pledges $2.5 Million to Earth Institute Project in India

    In partnership with Earth Institute researchers, the IKEA Foundation has pledged over $2.5 million to help improve the quality of education through pilot projects in two Indian states.

  • 2 Earth Institute Centers Join Forces

    The Earth Institute today announced that beginning Oct. 1, the Center for Global Health and Economic Development (CGHED) would migrate its staff and projects to the Earth Institute’s Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development.

  • Breaking the Poverty Trap in Ethiopia: Subsistence, Satellites, and Some Other Important Stuff

    Breaking the Poverty Trap in Ethiopia: Subsistence, Satellites, and Some Other Important Stuff

    Two acres of cracked earth. In northern Ethiopia, it can be a trap that keeps farmers tethered to it for generations. Or it can be a springboard to a better life for this and future generations. What impedes it from showing its springier qualities? You could argue the biggest pressure on the land comes from…

  • Internship Opportunities with the Earth Institute Director’s Office

    The Office of the Director of the Earth Institute is offering two internship opportunities: One is the Administrations, Communications, and Research Internship, and the other the Communications, Research, Writing and Event-Planning Internship. The deadline to apply is Sept. 14.

  • From Birmingham to Bamako: How Farmers Deal with Drought

    From Birmingham to Bamako: How Farmers Deal with Drought

    A look at the tools and technologies farmers in Mali use to enhance their decision making in the face of droughts and other climate risks.

  • Rio 2016 Olympics: Another Reason to Watch Brazil’s Rise

    Rio 2016 Olympics: Another Reason to Watch Brazil’s Rise

    If public-private partnerships are essential to successfully carrying out the Olympics and using it to catalyze positive change for the host city, then Rio could have an important advantage for hosting the games in 2016.

  • London Olympics: How the Games Help Urban Development

    London Olympics: How the Games Help Urban Development

    The Olympics symbolize unity and friendship: The whole world comes together for the Games, playing by the same rules, honoring the same Olympian spirit of excellence and fair play. But today’s Olympics are notable for another type of collaboration—between the public and private sectors.

  • Forecasting Climate’s Effects on Global Food Production

    Forecasting Climate’s Effects on Global Food Production

    The worst drought to hit the U.S. in decades has already brought corn yields to a 17-year low and will almost certainly raise food prices. Wealth will soften the blow in the U.S., but in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, prolonged drought has often had deadly consequences. Is there a better way to anticipate climate’s…

  • Cities Are Where the Action Is, Post-Rio

    Cities Are Where the Action Is, Post-Rio

    Representatives of the worlds’ cities came to Rio in June for a series of events focused on the problems pressing in on the burgeoning urban population. Mayors around the world already are working on solutions and came out of Rio with concrete commitments for the future.