State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Sustainability82

  • In China, Making a Fashion Statement

    In China, Making a Fashion Statement

    “It costs 20,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of cotton, which is just enough to produce a pair of jeans,” observed Guo—a stark measure of the importance of incorporating sustainability into fashion enterprises.

  • With a Little Software Magic, Students Create Pollution Solutions

    With a Little Software Magic, Students Create Pollution Solutions

    Undergraduate sustainability students explored innovative software and 3D printing to create a set of possible solutions to help Singapore cope with a big problem: haze and air pollution drifting over the city state from burning forests in neighboring Indonesia.

  • Transforming Organizations with Sustainability Management

    Transforming Organizations with Sustainability Management

    “Trends are always nonlinear. Adoption accelerates because of policy and sometimes in spite of policy. Even if Washington has a different view, businesses and capital markets care about sustainability, and the movement will continue in spite of them.”

  • Our Economy Depends on Earth Observation and Scientific Research

    Our Economy Depends on Earth Observation and Scientific Research

    If we are to continue to grow our economy without destroying the planet’s basic systems that sustain human life, we need to learn a great deal more about our planet and the impact of human activities on natural systems.

  • Students Travel to Israel to Experience Current Impacts of Climate Change

    Students Travel to Israel to Experience Current Impacts of Climate Change

    Current MPA-ESP Student Tiara Cunningham writes about her experience traveling to Israel with SIPA’s Israel Environmental Delegation.

  • Colin Kelley: Food and Water Vulnerability in a Changing Climate

    Colin Kelley: Food and Water Vulnerability in a Changing Climate

    Colin Kelley, an associate research scientist with the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, studies regional climate in vulnerable areas like the Middle East in order to improve our ability to make forecasts, plan ahead and become more resilient to drought and other climate shifts.

  • How to Get Your Head Around the ‘Circular Economy’

    How to Get Your Head Around the ‘Circular Economy’

    Vincent Aurez, an economist and circular economy consultant for Ernst & Young’s Paris office, spoke about how companies have drawn on intelligent eco-design, and developed or identified new markets for their waste products, to improve profitability while reducing global footprint.

  • Transforming Organizations with Sustainability Management

    Transforming Organizations with Sustainability Management

    More and more companies and nonprofits have a chief sustainability officer and are beginning to incorporate sustainability concerns into routine management. The world is slowly starting the transition from today’s economy based on fossil fuels, destruction of ecosystems, and the one time use and disposal of finite resources, to an economy based on renewable resources…

  • Student Profile: Iara Vicente – From the Amazon to the World

    Student Profile: Iara Vicente – From the Amazon to the World

    “This program provided me a much-needed balance between building public administration capacity, scientific proficiency and a deep understanding of ethical and political implications. It is a program that has a clear objective: to promote sustainability worldwide.”

Colorful icons representing nature, sustainable living, and renewable energy with text "Earth Day 2026"

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.

  • In China, Making a Fashion Statement

    In China, Making a Fashion Statement

    “It costs 20,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of cotton, which is just enough to produce a pair of jeans,” observed Guo—a stark measure of the importance of incorporating sustainability into fashion enterprises.

  • With a Little Software Magic, Students Create Pollution Solutions

    With a Little Software Magic, Students Create Pollution Solutions

    Undergraduate sustainability students explored innovative software and 3D printing to create a set of possible solutions to help Singapore cope with a big problem: haze and air pollution drifting over the city state from burning forests in neighboring Indonesia.

  • Transforming Organizations with Sustainability Management

    Transforming Organizations with Sustainability Management

    “Trends are always nonlinear. Adoption accelerates because of policy and sometimes in spite of policy. Even if Washington has a different view, businesses and capital markets care about sustainability, and the movement will continue in spite of them.”

  • Our Economy Depends on Earth Observation and Scientific Research

    Our Economy Depends on Earth Observation and Scientific Research

    If we are to continue to grow our economy without destroying the planet’s basic systems that sustain human life, we need to learn a great deal more about our planet and the impact of human activities on natural systems.

  • Students Travel to Israel to Experience Current Impacts of Climate Change

    Students Travel to Israel to Experience Current Impacts of Climate Change

    Current MPA-ESP Student Tiara Cunningham writes about her experience traveling to Israel with SIPA’s Israel Environmental Delegation.

  • Colin Kelley: Food and Water Vulnerability in a Changing Climate

    Colin Kelley: Food and Water Vulnerability in a Changing Climate

    Colin Kelley, an associate research scientist with the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, studies regional climate in vulnerable areas like the Middle East in order to improve our ability to make forecasts, plan ahead and become more resilient to drought and other climate shifts.

  • How to Get Your Head Around the ‘Circular Economy’

    How to Get Your Head Around the ‘Circular Economy’

    Vincent Aurez, an economist and circular economy consultant for Ernst & Young’s Paris office, spoke about how companies have drawn on intelligent eco-design, and developed or identified new markets for their waste products, to improve profitability while reducing global footprint.

  • Transforming Organizations with Sustainability Management

    Transforming Organizations with Sustainability Management

    More and more companies and nonprofits have a chief sustainability officer and are beginning to incorporate sustainability concerns into routine management. The world is slowly starting the transition from today’s economy based on fossil fuels, destruction of ecosystems, and the one time use and disposal of finite resources, to an economy based on renewable resources…

  • Student Profile: Iara Vicente – From the Amazon to the World

    Student Profile: Iara Vicente – From the Amazon to the World

    “This program provided me a much-needed balance between building public administration capacity, scientific proficiency and a deep understanding of ethical and political implications. It is a program that has a clear objective: to promote sustainability worldwide.”