Urbanization
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Study Links NYC Congestion Pricing Policy to Cleaner Air In Lower Manhattan
One year after NYC launched its congestion pricing policy, fine particulate pollution inside Manhattan’s congestion relief zone was 13 percent lower, according to a new analysis.
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September Research Roundup: Select Papers
In this month’s edition of our research roundup, we look at the impact of suspending U.S. embassy reporting on air quality; why two extreme heatwaves had different impacts; and how to make vulnerable populations in smaller cities more visible.
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Harlem Week Climate Change Conference Centers Community Voices
Panelists highlighted environmental justice, local partnerships, New York’s climate laws and the need for equitable solutions that protect public health, reduce emissions and build a more resilient city.
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Sinking Land Drives Hidden Flood Risk in One of the World’s Most Populated Regions
A new study finds that land subsidence is outpacing ocean-driven sea-level rise along the northern coastline of Java Island, Indonesia.
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Can Mayor Mamdani Turn Climate Action Into an Affordability Win for NYC?
Columbia Climate School experts discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead for NYC’s new mayor.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

October 28, 2026 is Columbia Giving Day! Your gift to Columbia Climate School helps advance interdisciplinary research, educate the next generation of leaders, and transform bold ideas into real-world solutions for climate, Earth, and society.
