State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Sustainability90

  • Going Electric Adds up to a Good Idea for NYC Buses

    Going Electric Adds up to a Good Idea for NYC Buses

    New York City Transit is considering adding electric buses to its fleet. The purchase price of electric buses is higher than for diesel buses-, but using them would reduce harmful emissions. So is this a good idea?

  • Why Institutional Investors Support Transparency

    Why Institutional Investors Support Transparency

    The increasing technical risks of global natural resource development have been well-documented. What is less understood but no less important are the growing political, regulatory and reputational risks involved in meeting the world’s growing resource needs.

  • Students Travel to the Middle East

    Students Travel to the Middle East

    Students from Columbia University and Tel Aviv University are traveling through Jordan and Israel to learn about environmental challenges facing the two countries. They’ll be posting here about their experiences. You can also follow them on social media at #CUJordanIsrael2016.

  • The False Trade-Off Between Economic Growth and Environmental Protection

    The investment in environmental clean-up often stimulates other upgrades that enable businesses to more effectively compete in a global economy. Moreover, a clean environment reduces illness and that reduces the need for expensive health care.

  • Students Assess City Greenhouse Gas Reduction Tools

    Students Assess City Greenhouse Gas Reduction Tools

    Students in the Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program worked this past semester to analyze city-level strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

  • New York City’s Bag Fee and the Circular Economy

    While the reduction and eventual elimination of fossil fuel use is a key element of such an economy, so too are the public policies and public-private partnerships needed to collect and reuse discarded products and packages. Bag bills and bottle bills can help develop these capacities. In most of the United States, these ideas have…

  • Columbia, What Is Our Role in Responding to Climate Change?

    Columbia, What Is Our Role in Responding to Climate Change?

    We often think of the fight against climate change on a national or international level, but what can we do as a community?

  • Practical Solutions to Sustainability Issues: Undergraduate Capstone Projects

    Practical Solutions to Sustainability Issues: Undergraduate Capstone Projects

    On April 29, students in the Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development presented practical solutions to sustainability issues and challenges faced by real world clients.

  • The How and Why of Green Building

    The How and Why of Green Building

    Buildings account for almost a third of global greenhouse gas emissions and the U.N. Environment Programme projects that if we continue with business as usual in the building sector, these emissions will double by 2030. Fortunately, green building is on the rise around the world.

Banner: Climate Week NYC 2025, September 21-28, 2025
  • Going Electric Adds up to a Good Idea for NYC Buses

    Going Electric Adds up to a Good Idea for NYC Buses

    New York City Transit is considering adding electric buses to its fleet. The purchase price of electric buses is higher than for diesel buses-, but using them would reduce harmful emissions. So is this a good idea?

  • Why Institutional Investors Support Transparency

    Why Institutional Investors Support Transparency

    The increasing technical risks of global natural resource development have been well-documented. What is less understood but no less important are the growing political, regulatory and reputational risks involved in meeting the world’s growing resource needs.

  • Students Travel to the Middle East

    Students Travel to the Middle East

    Students from Columbia University and Tel Aviv University are traveling through Jordan and Israel to learn about environmental challenges facing the two countries. They’ll be posting here about their experiences. You can also follow them on social media at #CUJordanIsrael2016.

  • The False Trade-Off Between Economic Growth and Environmental Protection

    The investment in environmental clean-up often stimulates other upgrades that enable businesses to more effectively compete in a global economy. Moreover, a clean environment reduces illness and that reduces the need for expensive health care.

  • Students Assess City Greenhouse Gas Reduction Tools

    Students Assess City Greenhouse Gas Reduction Tools

    Students in the Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program worked this past semester to analyze city-level strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

  • New York City’s Bag Fee and the Circular Economy

    While the reduction and eventual elimination of fossil fuel use is a key element of such an economy, so too are the public policies and public-private partnerships needed to collect and reuse discarded products and packages. Bag bills and bottle bills can help develop these capacities. In most of the United States, these ideas have…

  • Columbia, What Is Our Role in Responding to Climate Change?

    Columbia, What Is Our Role in Responding to Climate Change?

    We often think of the fight against climate change on a national or international level, but what can we do as a community?

  • Practical Solutions to Sustainability Issues: Undergraduate Capstone Projects

    Practical Solutions to Sustainability Issues: Undergraduate Capstone Projects

    On April 29, students in the Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development presented practical solutions to sustainability issues and challenges faced by real world clients.

  • The How and Why of Green Building

    The How and Why of Green Building

    Buildings account for almost a third of global greenhouse gas emissions and the U.N. Environment Programme projects that if we continue with business as usual in the building sector, these emissions will double by 2030. Fortunately, green building is on the rise around the world.