Press Release10
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New Courses Will Lead the Way on Climate Resilience and Equitable Disaster Response
The National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Columbia Climate School will now offer FEMA-certified trainings on climate change, equity and emergency management.
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Daniel Zarrilli Named Columbia’s Inaugural Chief Climate and Sustainability Officer
Zarrilli, who formerly served as the NYC Mayor Office’s chief climate policy advisor, will help the university achieve its climate commitments and reach sustainability goals.
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Study Challenges Popular Idea That Easter Islanders Committed ‘Ecocide’
A popular trope says settlers overtaxed an isolated Pacific island, wrecked the environment and suffered a population collapse. A new study claims the opposite.
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An Earthquake Changed the Course of the Ganges. Could It Happen Again?
2,500 years ago, an earthquake changed the course of the mighty Ganges River, a new study shows. The region remains vulnerable to a similar event now.
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Faculty Announcement: Sheila Foster Appointed Professor of Climate
Sheila Foster has been appointed a tenured professor of climate at the Climate School.
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Cascadia Subduction Zone, One of Earth’s Top Hazards, Comes Into Sharper Focus
Where tectonic plates collide off the coasts of the western United States and Canada, giant earthquakes and tsunamis occur. The last one was 324 years ago. When will be the next?
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New Report Provides a Ranking of Sustainability Around the World
The 2024 Environmental Performance Index, produced by centers at Columbia Climate School and Yale, offers a scorecard for 180 countries based on their climate change mitigation, ecosystem vitality and environmental health.
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Key Ocean Current Contains a Warning on Climate
A new study shows that a giant current circling Antarctica has speeded up during past warm periods, eating away at the polar ice. It’s doing it again now.
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Can ‘Super Volcanoes’ Cool the Earth in a Major Way? A New Study Suggests No.
An extended volcanic winter could have huge impacts on all living creatures. But could this really happen?

COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More
