State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Water73

  • Water/commodity series (4)Corn feed consumption: China, US, and India

    Among various uses of corn, the three major uses—food, animal feed, and biofuel production—compete in demand. Here we analyzed the percentage of corn for animal feed compared to total domestic consumption of corn (including feed, food, seed, and industrial uses) in US, China, and India.

  • Water/commodity series (3)Wheat import/export

    We found top three importers and exporters of wheat in 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2008.

  • Water/commodity series (2)Per capita wheat production: China, US, and India

    Using wheat production and population data for China, US, and India since 1960, we analyzed per capita wheat production. Because per capita wheat consumption is fairly stable over time (though it can change a little bit by changing lifestyle, diet, economic status, etc), from per capita wheat production, it can be shown whether a country…

  • Water/commodity series (1)Wheat yield: China,US, and India

    China shows the biggest improvement in yield over last 50 years; it improved almost by six times, while United States only doubled and India tripled. Although China and India showed very similar yield level in 1960s, China started to take off around early 1970. United States shows a relatively little change in yield and China…

  • California’s other crisis

    The “Golden” State doesn’t seem so golden these days. LA’s recent wildfires and Sacramento’s recent budget crises have left a dark cloud hanging over the state. Compounding the state’s financial woes and charred image is a problem potentially even more challenging: drought. Since 2000, the state’s reservoirs have been depleted and current climate change projections…

  • Ecosystem Services Come to New York City: The Natural Way to Reduce Pollution

    On August 27th, New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced that his office will provide $1.8 million of a $7 million settlement with a number of towns in Westchester that had been illegally dumping raw sewage into the Bronx River. According to Cuomo’s web site: “The funding will be provided to seven entities, including…

  • India: the Impact of the 2009 Monsoon Failure

    This article is the second in a series inspired by the recent Columbia Water Center trip to India During our recent CWC trip to India (during the first three weeks of August) one news story dominated all others: this year’s near total failure of the monsoon.  Many of us in the West don’t really understand what…

  • India’s Water Future

    I recently returned from a CWC trip to India, where we have several projects underway.  During this trip, we had the opportunity to talk with a range of  water users – farmers, corporations, academic experts, and government officials.  One thing became very clear to me: Although India’s water situation is precarious, there is a real…

  • Dark Side of Solar Has Light at the End of the Tunnel

    As the United States searches for sources of alternative energy and a means to reduce its production of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, solar power plants have emerged as a leading candidate to address both of these problems. While these plants do indeed provide an additional means of producting energy that could potentially reduce the amount…

  • Water/commodity series (4)Corn feed consumption: China, US, and India

    Among various uses of corn, the three major uses—food, animal feed, and biofuel production—compete in demand. Here we analyzed the percentage of corn for animal feed compared to total domestic consumption of corn (including feed, food, seed, and industrial uses) in US, China, and India.

  • Water/commodity series (3)Wheat import/export

    We found top three importers and exporters of wheat in 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2008.

  • Water/commodity series (2)Per capita wheat production: China, US, and India

    Using wheat production and population data for China, US, and India since 1960, we analyzed per capita wheat production. Because per capita wheat consumption is fairly stable over time (though it can change a little bit by changing lifestyle, diet, economic status, etc), from per capita wheat production, it can be shown whether a country…

  • Water/commodity series (1)Wheat yield: China,US, and India

    China shows the biggest improvement in yield over last 50 years; it improved almost by six times, while United States only doubled and India tripled. Although China and India showed very similar yield level in 1960s, China started to take off around early 1970. United States shows a relatively little change in yield and China…

  • California’s other crisis

    The “Golden” State doesn’t seem so golden these days. LA’s recent wildfires and Sacramento’s recent budget crises have left a dark cloud hanging over the state. Compounding the state’s financial woes and charred image is a problem potentially even more challenging: drought. Since 2000, the state’s reservoirs have been depleted and current climate change projections…

  • Ecosystem Services Come to New York City: The Natural Way to Reduce Pollution

    On August 27th, New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced that his office will provide $1.8 million of a $7 million settlement with a number of towns in Westchester that had been illegally dumping raw sewage into the Bronx River. According to Cuomo’s web site: “The funding will be provided to seven entities, including…

  • India: the Impact of the 2009 Monsoon Failure

    This article is the second in a series inspired by the recent Columbia Water Center trip to India During our recent CWC trip to India (during the first three weeks of August) one news story dominated all others: this year’s near total failure of the monsoon.  Many of us in the West don’t really understand what…

  • India’s Water Future

    I recently returned from a CWC trip to India, where we have several projects underway.  During this trip, we had the opportunity to talk with a range of  water users – farmers, corporations, academic experts, and government officials.  One thing became very clear to me: Although India’s water situation is precarious, there is a real…

  • Dark Side of Solar Has Light at the End of the Tunnel

    As the United States searches for sources of alternative energy and a means to reduce its production of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, solar power plants have emerged as a leading candidate to address both of these problems. While these plants do indeed provide an additional means of producting energy that could potentially reduce the amount…