State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Sustainability87

  • Can Climate Litigation Support Global Action on Climate Change?

    Can Climate Litigation Support Global Action on Climate Change?

    The Paris Climate Agreement officially goes into effect Nov. 4. But it will take much more to achieve its goals. Legal challenges could well provide one way for individuals, civil society and governments to support and reinforce global action on climate change.

  • How a Student Project Helped to Change JetBlue’s Course

    How a Student Project Helped to Change JetBlue’s Course

    What began as research at Columbia University became the catalyst for improving the sustainability of an airline, as JetBlue recently forged a 10-year deal to buy 330 million gallons of jet fuel made partially from plants.

  • Protecting Intellectual Property While Mitigating Climate Change: Can We Do Both?

    Protecting Intellectual Property While Mitigating Climate Change: Can We Do Both?

    The Paris Climate Agreement officially goes into effect Nov. 4. But it will take much more to achieve its goals. Legal mechanisms could well provide one way for individuals, civil society and governments to support and reinforce global action on climate change.

  • Putting Garbage to Good Use with Waste-to-Energy

    Putting Garbage to Good Use with Waste-to-Energy

    Burning garbage to produce electricity is a strategy for sustainable waste management that is finding favor in Europe and China. Why isn’t it practiced more in the U.S.?

  • Building Consensus on Climate and Sustainability Policy

    The New York Times reported on a new international agreement that will phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, a chemical that is used in refrigerators and air conditioners that is a powerful greenhouse gas. The irony is that HFCs were developed to replace chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, chemicals that caused a hole in our atmosphere’s ozone layer…

  • Housing in New York City: Updating the History

    Housing in New York City: Updating the History

    “Beyond doubt the large question facing New York housing production today has to do with a market that can not provide for the half of our households that are low income.”

  • No Free Passes: Making Renewable Energy Responsible

    No Free Passes: Making Renewable Energy Responsible

    As the world rushes to invest in clean energy, the potential impacts of these projects on the rights of local individuals and communities need to be properly addressed.

  • Leaving Fossil Fuels in the Ground: Who, What and When?

    Leaving Fossil Fuels in the Ground: Who, What and When?

    In order to promote a broader conversation on the issue of equity and stranded assets, Oxfam recently released a report discussing whether there is a reasonable case to be made that developing countries should get preferential treatment so that they bear less of the burden when it comes to having their assets stranded.

  • Stranding Equitably in the Current Market and Geopolitical Context

    Stranding Equitably in the Current Market and Geopolitical Context

    The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment’s conference of early November will consider, notably, how world production of oil and gas could be significantly reduced in manners protecting the interests of lower-income producing countries, given that staying on carbon budget will require leaving two thirds of our fossil fuel reserves unburnt.

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.

  • Can Climate Litigation Support Global Action on Climate Change?

    Can Climate Litigation Support Global Action on Climate Change?

    The Paris Climate Agreement officially goes into effect Nov. 4. But it will take much more to achieve its goals. Legal challenges could well provide one way for individuals, civil society and governments to support and reinforce global action on climate change.

  • How a Student Project Helped to Change JetBlue’s Course

    How a Student Project Helped to Change JetBlue’s Course

    What began as research at Columbia University became the catalyst for improving the sustainability of an airline, as JetBlue recently forged a 10-year deal to buy 330 million gallons of jet fuel made partially from plants.

  • Protecting Intellectual Property While Mitigating Climate Change: Can We Do Both?

    Protecting Intellectual Property While Mitigating Climate Change: Can We Do Both?

    The Paris Climate Agreement officially goes into effect Nov. 4. But it will take much more to achieve its goals. Legal mechanisms could well provide one way for individuals, civil society and governments to support and reinforce global action on climate change.

  • Putting Garbage to Good Use with Waste-to-Energy

    Putting Garbage to Good Use with Waste-to-Energy

    Burning garbage to produce electricity is a strategy for sustainable waste management that is finding favor in Europe and China. Why isn’t it practiced more in the U.S.?

  • Building Consensus on Climate and Sustainability Policy

    The New York Times reported on a new international agreement that will phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, a chemical that is used in refrigerators and air conditioners that is a powerful greenhouse gas. The irony is that HFCs were developed to replace chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, chemicals that caused a hole in our atmosphere’s ozone layer…

  • Housing in New York City: Updating the History

    Housing in New York City: Updating the History

    “Beyond doubt the large question facing New York housing production today has to do with a market that can not provide for the half of our households that are low income.”

  • No Free Passes: Making Renewable Energy Responsible

    No Free Passes: Making Renewable Energy Responsible

    As the world rushes to invest in clean energy, the potential impacts of these projects on the rights of local individuals and communities need to be properly addressed.

  • Leaving Fossil Fuels in the Ground: Who, What and When?

    Leaving Fossil Fuels in the Ground: Who, What and When?

    In order to promote a broader conversation on the issue of equity and stranded assets, Oxfam recently released a report discussing whether there is a reasonable case to be made that developing countries should get preferential treatment so that they bear less of the burden when it comes to having their assets stranded.

  • Stranding Equitably in the Current Market and Geopolitical Context

    Stranding Equitably in the Current Market and Geopolitical Context

    The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment’s conference of early November will consider, notably, how world production of oil and gas could be significantly reduced in manners protecting the interests of lower-income producing countries, given that staying on carbon budget will require leaving two thirds of our fossil fuel reserves unburnt.