State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Water50

  • New York Times Raises Concerns about Hydrofracking

    New York Times Raises Concerns about Hydrofracking

    An article in the New York Times has prompted debate over the effects of hydrofracking, a means of obtaining natural gas, on drinking water supplies.

  • The Fog Collectors: Harvesting Water From Thin Air

    The Fog Collectors: Harvesting Water From Thin Air

    Today nearly two people in ten have no source of safe drinking water according to the U.N. But in some desert areas, where there is very little rain, fog and dew are abundant sources of humidity that are being harvested to produce fresh water.

  • Irrigation Management and Global Water Supply

    Irrigation Management and Global Water Supply

    The Columbia Water Center hosted Marshall English last week to talk about the role crop irrigation plays in water resource planning and problem solving.

  • Maori Values; Modern Solutions

    Maori Values; Modern Solutions

    New Zealand’s longest river is also its most polluted, but Maori tribesmen have help to offer that goes beyond technology.

  • Flood Impacts: Don’t Forget Other Factors

    Flood Impacts: Don’t Forget Other Factors

    As scientists continue to try to sort out climate change effects, it’s important to remember also that when it comes to the impact of floods, there are many factors outside of global climate change that affect outcomes for people. Here are a few.

  • Arrival in Bangladesh: Assessing Risk of Natural Hazards

    Arrival in Bangladesh: Assessing Risk of Natural Hazards

    We arrived in Bangladesh this morning after a full day of traveling only to find 4 pieces of luggage missing. We will need to return tomorrow to get it. Spent the day in preparing and fighting traffic in Dhaka instead of heading to the field.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 2/13

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 2/13

    Republicans Gut EPA Climate Rules, Slash Deeply into Climate Research, Aid and Technology Programs, NY Times, Feb. 14 On Friday, Feb. 11, House Republicans introduced a continuing resolution (CR) on spending legislation which would fund government operations through Sept. 30. Aiming to trim $100 billion from the Obama administration’s 2011 fiscal budget, the bill proposes cuts…

  • Seawater Greenhouses Produce Tomatoes in the Desert

    Seawater Greenhouses Produce Tomatoes in the Desert

    With the global population increasing by 80 million each year, a third of the planet will likely face water shortages by 2025. This looming water crisis is inextricably linked to food production…

  • Floods in Eastern Sri Lanka and North-Eastern Australia: Contrasts in Disaster Risk Management

    Due to the ongoing floods in Sri Lanka, more than a million people are affected, 185,000 were displaced and 16 had died by February 5, 2011. The impact has been most severe on Eastern Sri Lanka a “Disaster Hazard and Vulnerability Hotspot”. The purpose of this post is to publicize information resources to help target…

Composite banner with modern building at night and portrait of Dean Alexis Abramson that reads "Science for the Planet"

By studying thousands of buildings and analyzing their electricity use, Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson has been able to uncover ways to significantly cut energy consumption and emissions. Watch the Video: “Engineering a Cooler Future Through Smarter Buildings

  • New York Times Raises Concerns about Hydrofracking

    New York Times Raises Concerns about Hydrofracking

    An article in the New York Times has prompted debate over the effects of hydrofracking, a means of obtaining natural gas, on drinking water supplies.

  • The Fog Collectors: Harvesting Water From Thin Air

    The Fog Collectors: Harvesting Water From Thin Air

    Today nearly two people in ten have no source of safe drinking water according to the U.N. But in some desert areas, where there is very little rain, fog and dew are abundant sources of humidity that are being harvested to produce fresh water.

  • Irrigation Management and Global Water Supply

    Irrigation Management and Global Water Supply

    The Columbia Water Center hosted Marshall English last week to talk about the role crop irrigation plays in water resource planning and problem solving.

  • Maori Values; Modern Solutions

    Maori Values; Modern Solutions

    New Zealand’s longest river is also its most polluted, but Maori tribesmen have help to offer that goes beyond technology.

  • Flood Impacts: Don’t Forget Other Factors

    Flood Impacts: Don’t Forget Other Factors

    As scientists continue to try to sort out climate change effects, it’s important to remember also that when it comes to the impact of floods, there are many factors outside of global climate change that affect outcomes for people. Here are a few.

  • Arrival in Bangladesh: Assessing Risk of Natural Hazards

    Arrival in Bangladesh: Assessing Risk of Natural Hazards

    We arrived in Bangladesh this morning after a full day of traveling only to find 4 pieces of luggage missing. We will need to return tomorrow to get it. Spent the day in preparing and fighting traffic in Dhaka instead of heading to the field.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 2/13

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 2/13

    Republicans Gut EPA Climate Rules, Slash Deeply into Climate Research, Aid and Technology Programs, NY Times, Feb. 14 On Friday, Feb. 11, House Republicans introduced a continuing resolution (CR) on spending legislation which would fund government operations through Sept. 30. Aiming to trim $100 billion from the Obama administration’s 2011 fiscal budget, the bill proposes cuts…

  • Seawater Greenhouses Produce Tomatoes in the Desert

    Seawater Greenhouses Produce Tomatoes in the Desert

    With the global population increasing by 80 million each year, a third of the planet will likely face water shortages by 2025. This looming water crisis is inextricably linked to food production…

  • Floods in Eastern Sri Lanka and North-Eastern Australia: Contrasts in Disaster Risk Management

    Due to the ongoing floods in Sri Lanka, more than a million people are affected, 185,000 were displaced and 16 had died by February 5, 2011. The impact has been most severe on Eastern Sri Lanka a “Disaster Hazard and Vulnerability Hotspot”. The purpose of this post is to publicize information resources to help target…