State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Water37

  • Deeper than Water — New Video and Infographics from the Columbia Water Center

    Deeper than Water — New Video and Infographics from the Columbia Water Center

    As population grows and demand for food and products increase, so does our demand for water. But in the face of growing pressure on our water resources from depletion, pollution and climate change, we need to make more of what we have.

  • Water, Water Everywhere, But Nary a Drop to Drink

    Water, Water Everywhere, But Nary a Drop to Drink

    It is a unique challenge of our generation that many in the developing world have cellular phones and TVs, but lack reliable access to water. Odd, perhaps, given that water is marketed as essential for life, a human right, and heart rending pictures of women and children walking miles to fetch water are routinely flashed…

  • Student ‘Aquanauts’ to Tackle Water Issues

    Student ‘Aquanauts’ to Tackle Water Issues

    “We would like to take on international problems, problems of development, problems in the United States, but have them done with academic content and interest. Instead of people being sent to random places, we would take engineering companies that have an interest in a particular region in solving a problem, and they would bring the…

  • Millennium Villages Shed Light on Water Security

    Millennium Villages Shed Light on Water Security

    Water is essential to human well-being and economic development. Today, however, water stress caused by inadequate farming practices, demographic pressure and pollution is creating unprecedented problems. Nowhere is this more visible than in the rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. As the world celebrates World Water Day on the 22nd of March to draw attention to…

  • Urban Wastewater: One Man’s Waste Is Another Man’s Treasure

    Urban Wastewater: One Man’s Waste Is Another Man’s Treasure

    How can we overcome the main challenges we face in our urban wastewater systems today? Are there opportunities to improve sustainability in water treatment systems in US cities to support local food security?

  • What’s in Your Rice? A Look at Where Rice in the U.S. Comes from

    What’s in Your Rice? A Look at Where Rice in the U.S. Comes from

    US rice production dominates our consumption at over 90% (USDA, 2012), and the question is whether or not that choice is the best one for our water and our environment.

  • Hydraulic Fracturing and Food Security: Can We Have Our Cake and Eat it Too?

    Hydraulic Fracturing and Food Security: Can We Have Our Cake and Eat it Too?

    What are the implications of hydraulic fracturing on agriculture and food security? In agricultural areas with widespread, ongoing hydrofracking, there have been incidences of livestock poisoning from contaminated surface water sources or grasses, and soil contamination from explosions, spills, flares, irresponsible fracking-wastewater treatment, and leaky gas pipes.

  • Water and Food Facts for World Water Day

    Water and Food Facts for World Water Day

    March 22 is World Water Day, and its theme this year—water and food security—couldn’t be more pressing. But what do we really know about water—where it goes, what it’s used for, and how to preserve it?

  • The Sundarbans

    The Sundarbans

    After finally reaching the Mongla and our boat, we settled into our new home. It is a similar design, but much larger than the one we used in September. As we ate dinner and explored the ship, it started the overnight journey to the southeastern part of the Sundarbans where the wildlife is most plentiful.…

Banner with images representing environmental issues and text "You Asked: Our Scientists and Experts Answer Your Burning Questions."

You Asked invites you to share your most pressing questions about climate, science, and sustainability. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia Climate School experts will respond with clear, evidence-based answers. Pose your questions and story ideas!

  • Deeper than Water — New Video and Infographics from the Columbia Water Center

    Deeper than Water — New Video and Infographics from the Columbia Water Center

    As population grows and demand for food and products increase, so does our demand for water. But in the face of growing pressure on our water resources from depletion, pollution and climate change, we need to make more of what we have.

  • Water, Water Everywhere, But Nary a Drop to Drink

    Water, Water Everywhere, But Nary a Drop to Drink

    It is a unique challenge of our generation that many in the developing world have cellular phones and TVs, but lack reliable access to water. Odd, perhaps, given that water is marketed as essential for life, a human right, and heart rending pictures of women and children walking miles to fetch water are routinely flashed…

  • Student ‘Aquanauts’ to Tackle Water Issues

    Student ‘Aquanauts’ to Tackle Water Issues

    “We would like to take on international problems, problems of development, problems in the United States, but have them done with academic content and interest. Instead of people being sent to random places, we would take engineering companies that have an interest in a particular region in solving a problem, and they would bring the…

  • Millennium Villages Shed Light on Water Security

    Millennium Villages Shed Light on Water Security

    Water is essential to human well-being and economic development. Today, however, water stress caused by inadequate farming practices, demographic pressure and pollution is creating unprecedented problems. Nowhere is this more visible than in the rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. As the world celebrates World Water Day on the 22nd of March to draw attention to…

  • Urban Wastewater: One Man’s Waste Is Another Man’s Treasure

    Urban Wastewater: One Man’s Waste Is Another Man’s Treasure

    How can we overcome the main challenges we face in our urban wastewater systems today? Are there opportunities to improve sustainability in water treatment systems in US cities to support local food security?

  • What’s in Your Rice? A Look at Where Rice in the U.S. Comes from

    What’s in Your Rice? A Look at Where Rice in the U.S. Comes from

    US rice production dominates our consumption at over 90% (USDA, 2012), and the question is whether or not that choice is the best one for our water and our environment.

  • Hydraulic Fracturing and Food Security: Can We Have Our Cake and Eat it Too?

    Hydraulic Fracturing and Food Security: Can We Have Our Cake and Eat it Too?

    What are the implications of hydraulic fracturing on agriculture and food security? In agricultural areas with widespread, ongoing hydrofracking, there have been incidences of livestock poisoning from contaminated surface water sources or grasses, and soil contamination from explosions, spills, flares, irresponsible fracking-wastewater treatment, and leaky gas pipes.

  • Water and Food Facts for World Water Day

    Water and Food Facts for World Water Day

    March 22 is World Water Day, and its theme this year—water and food security—couldn’t be more pressing. But what do we really know about water—where it goes, what it’s used for, and how to preserve it?

  • The Sundarbans

    The Sundarbans

    After finally reaching the Mongla and our boat, we settled into our new home. It is a similar design, but much larger than the one we used in September. As we ate dinner and explored the ship, it started the overnight journey to the southeastern part of the Sundarbans where the wildlife is most plentiful.…