Urbanization
-

Exploring Essential Ecosystems for a Thriving Urban Future
MPA-ESP students traveled through the Bronx to learn about why urban rivers, wetlands and forests are crucial to the future of our cities.
-

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.
-

How Do We Fix the Hellish Heat of the New York City Subway System?
It’s time to treat subway heat like the climate adaptation issue and public health hazard that it is.
-

The Rising Threat to New York City’s Food System
An increasing risk of flooding in Hunts Point could upend a large share of the city food distribution.
-

Toxic Legacies and Transformative Learning: MPA-ESP Students Explore the Gowanus Canal
In June, a group of students stepped out of the classroom and into one of New York City’s most environmentally complex sites.
-

How AI Is Revolutionizing the Recycling Industry
Modern waste facilities are incorporating AI into their systems, using robots guided by AI vision systems and machine learning algorithms, high resolution cameras, hyperspectral imaging, near-infrared sensors and predictive analytics.
-

All of the Biggest U.S. Cities Are Sinking
From the coasts to the interior, urban areas are sinking. The main culprit: pumping of groundwater.
-

How Congestion Pricing Will Benefit New York City
Congestion pricing is already delivering results, but what can New Yorkers expect in the months to come?
-

Reviving Nature in the City: Lessons From Urban Green Space Restoration
MPA-ESP students took field trips to Pelham Bay Park and Shirley Chisholm State Park to learn more about the importance of preserving urban green spaces.

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
