Press Release11
-

Remembering Longtime and Esteemed Columbia Scientist and Mentor Cheryl Palm
Beyond the science and scholarship, Cheryl created a family among the many who worked with her and for her.
-

‘Hot Drought’ Unprecedented Across Western North America Since the 16th Century, Study Suggests
Increased heat due to human-induced climate change, not just lack of rain, is driving the continued drying of soils, say researchers.
-

A Volcanic Explosion 520,000 Years Ago Dwarfed One That Devastated the Minoan Civilization
An undersea eruption a half million years ago was much larger than nearly anything recorded in human time.
-

Bottled Water Can Contain Hundreds of Thousands of Previously Uncounted Tiny Plastic Bits, Study Finds
Using a new technique, scientists have been able to identify extremely minute plastic fragments in bottled water, 10 times more than previously counted.
-

A New 66 Million-Year History of Carbon Dioxide Offers Little Comfort for Today
Scientists have produced a new curve of how atmospheric carbon dioxide affects climate. It makes clear that its effects can be long lasting.
-

American Geophysical Union 2023: Key Research From the Columbia Climate School
A guide to notable research to be presented at the world’s largest gathering of earth and space scientists.
-

In Many Major Crop Regions, Workers Plant and Harvest in Spiraling Heat and Humidity
The ability of farmworkers to cultivate major crops including rice and maize may be compromised if climate trends continue.
-

In Massive Project, Scientists to Probe Deposits Beneath West Antarctic Ice Sheet
Drilling into sub-ice deposits left behind during times when the Earth was warmer than today should provide insights into how a massive ice sheet will react to human-induced climate change.
-

World Temperatures Will Blow Past Paris Goals This Decade, Asserts New Study
James Hansen warned the world in the 1980s that global warming was coming. Now, he is warning that it is barreling down even faster than expected.

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
