Sustainability3
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NYC’s Composting Rates Are Low. A Sustainability Expert Thinks AI Will Offer a Solution. Eventually.
Steve Cohen, director of Columbia’s M.S. in Sustainability Management program, discusses the present and future of food waste programs in NYC.
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Rings of Time: Seeking Clues to the Future in Urban Timber
Lamont scientists are working with lumber salvage companies to preserve old timbers from demolished structures that offer rich clues to climate data and human history.
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Four Columbia Women Are Reimagining Rice Farming to Tackle Climate Change
Clean Crop is an ambitious startup project that blends policy, economics, sustainability and development.
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Alumni Spotlight: How Columbia Prepared Me for Work at the Nature Conservancy
Alison Miller, a senior leader at the Nature Conservancy, reflects on her time in Columbia’s MPA-ESP program and how it helped shape her career path.
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Denning Fellows Explore Sustainability Around the World
Three students traveled across the globe this summer to work on projects in global policy, climate vulnerability, and urban research and fieldwork.
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Can Tariffs Lead to a More Circular Economy?
While controversial and often politically divisive, tariffs may have the opportunity to shift production and consumption patterns toward sustainability.
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Alumni Spotlight: Bridging Science, Policy and Strategy for Climate Action
Tiffany Wu, a graduate of the MPA-ESP program, now works on climate and sustainability projects spanning carbon markets, corporate greenhouse gas accounting and clean energy.
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Sustainable Development Program Awards 2025 Departmental Honors
Four graduating students were selected for their outstanding academic achievements in sustainable development.
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Recognizing Excellence: Two Students Awarded Stuart Gaffin Prize for Sustainable Development Leadership
Harrison Gerson and Emine Taha exemplified the spirit of service, leadership and community engagement during their four years at Columbia.

The first Earth Day in 1970 ignited a movement to stop polluting our planet. Today, our scientists and experts are tackling the most pressing challenges to achieve real-world impact. This Earth Day, join us in our commitment to realizing a just and sustainable future for our planet. Visit our Earth Day website for ideas, resources, and inspiration.
