State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Sustainability88

  • Pressure Mounts for Developing Countries to Leave Fossil Fuels in the Ground

    Pressure Mounts for Developing Countries to Leave Fossil Fuels in the Ground

    Calls are intensifying to phase out fossil fuels, and that is now beginning to occur in many developed countries. This shift will have profound implications for the developing world, which has vast untapped fossil fuel resources, but may be unable to realize their value.

  • Opening Up Land Contracts and Land Data … With Caution

    Opening Up Land Contracts and Land Data … With Caution

    Transparency isn’t an end goal, but greater transparency over certain types of land-related information can lead to better outcomes: for example, more informed decision-making and improved accountability.

  • New York City’s Sustainable Dream

    New York City’s Sustainable Dream

    New York City is always in the global media and the images of this place are the inescapable backdrop of the emerging global culture. And that culture does not require the luxury consumer goods that are now available in all of the world’s major cities. Its core culture values a place that is safe to…

  • Flaring Gas: How Not to Waste a Valuable Resource

    Flaring Gas: How Not to Waste a Valuable Resource

    Every year, oil fields around the globe burn, or “flare,” an estimated 3.5 percent of the world’s natural gas supply. The gas is produced alongside oil and must be disposed of during the production process. Eliminating flaring would reduce CO2 emissions by as much as removing 77 million cars from the road. Moreover, the flaring…

  • MPA ESP Student Profile: Savannah’s Story

    MPA ESP Student Profile: Savannah’s Story

    Savannah Miller, a student in the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program, has witnessed the impact of climate change on three different continents. Prior to attending Columbia, Savannah completed fieldwork in Antarctica and sub-Saharan Africa. Last year, she attended the climate negotiations at COP21, in Paris, France, as a student delegate.

  • Climate Change and Sustainable Investment in Resources

    Climate Change and Sustainable Investment in Resources

    On Nov. 2-3, the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment will host a conference on “Climate Change and Sustainable Investment in Natural Resources,” bringing together diverse stakeholders to explore the key challenges underlying the issue.

  • 4th International Sustainable Development Conference Coming up

    4th International Sustainable Development Conference Coming up

    The world is working on sustainable development. And many of the new ideas and innovations being applied to fields from agriculture and food security to climate adaptation to socially inclusive economic growth will be on display at the fourth annual International Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held at Columbia University Sept. 21-22.

  • New Gift Will Bolster Sustainability Research Efforts in China

    New Gift Will Bolster Sustainability Research Efforts in China

    As part of a generous $2 million donation to Columbia University, the Earth Institute’s Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management will receive $700,000 to expand its research efforts on sustainability in China.

  • MSSM Alumnus Designs Bird Habitat in Thailand

    MSSM Alumnus Designs Bird Habitat in Thailand

    MSSM Alum Chak Cherdsatirul, is transforming 30 acres into a natural sanctuary for birds in Thailand. A challenge for architects, zoologists and botanists to juxtapose biodiversity concepts with aesthetic human-nature design to ultimately create a sustainable avian habitat.

Photo of the Earth from space with the text "Lamont at AGU25" on top.

AGU25, the premier Earth and space science conference, takes place December 15-19, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s theme—Where Science Connects Us—puts in focus how science depends on connection, from the lab to the field to the ballot box. Once again, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia Climate School scientists, experts, students, and educators are playing an active role, sharing our research and helping shape the future of our planet. #AGU25 Learn More

  • Pressure Mounts for Developing Countries to Leave Fossil Fuels in the Ground

    Pressure Mounts for Developing Countries to Leave Fossil Fuels in the Ground

    Calls are intensifying to phase out fossil fuels, and that is now beginning to occur in many developed countries. This shift will have profound implications for the developing world, which has vast untapped fossil fuel resources, but may be unable to realize their value.

  • Opening Up Land Contracts and Land Data … With Caution

    Opening Up Land Contracts and Land Data … With Caution

    Transparency isn’t an end goal, but greater transparency over certain types of land-related information can lead to better outcomes: for example, more informed decision-making and improved accountability.

  • New York City’s Sustainable Dream

    New York City’s Sustainable Dream

    New York City is always in the global media and the images of this place are the inescapable backdrop of the emerging global culture. And that culture does not require the luxury consumer goods that are now available in all of the world’s major cities. Its core culture values a place that is safe to…

  • Flaring Gas: How Not to Waste a Valuable Resource

    Flaring Gas: How Not to Waste a Valuable Resource

    Every year, oil fields around the globe burn, or “flare,” an estimated 3.5 percent of the world’s natural gas supply. The gas is produced alongside oil and must be disposed of during the production process. Eliminating flaring would reduce CO2 emissions by as much as removing 77 million cars from the road. Moreover, the flaring…

  • MPA ESP Student Profile: Savannah’s Story

    MPA ESP Student Profile: Savannah’s Story

    Savannah Miller, a student in the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program, has witnessed the impact of climate change on three different continents. Prior to attending Columbia, Savannah completed fieldwork in Antarctica and sub-Saharan Africa. Last year, she attended the climate negotiations at COP21, in Paris, France, as a student delegate.

  • Climate Change and Sustainable Investment in Resources

    Climate Change and Sustainable Investment in Resources

    On Nov. 2-3, the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment will host a conference on “Climate Change and Sustainable Investment in Natural Resources,” bringing together diverse stakeholders to explore the key challenges underlying the issue.

  • 4th International Sustainable Development Conference Coming up

    4th International Sustainable Development Conference Coming up

    The world is working on sustainable development. And many of the new ideas and innovations being applied to fields from agriculture and food security to climate adaptation to socially inclusive economic growth will be on display at the fourth annual International Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held at Columbia University Sept. 21-22.

  • New Gift Will Bolster Sustainability Research Efforts in China

    New Gift Will Bolster Sustainability Research Efforts in China

    As part of a generous $2 million donation to Columbia University, the Earth Institute’s Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management will receive $700,000 to expand its research efforts on sustainability in China.

  • MSSM Alumnus Designs Bird Habitat in Thailand

    MSSM Alumnus Designs Bird Habitat in Thailand

    MSSM Alum Chak Cherdsatirul, is transforming 30 acres into a natural sanctuary for birds in Thailand. A challenge for architects, zoologists and botanists to juxtapose biodiversity concepts with aesthetic human-nature design to ultimately create a sustainable avian habitat.