On March 23, the Environmental Protection Agency released a list of the 40 cities with the highest percentage of energy-efficient buildings. While Los Angeles, Washington and San Francisco made the top three, NYC came in at number ten. When we think about carbon emissions, we often think of cars, trucks, factories, and power plants. We think…
The arrival of spring in temperate climates means more hours of daylight, showers and flowers. Despite the general mood improvement from the dark days of winter, we should not be quick to forget the controversies surrounding this past season. Winter 2010, deemed by media outlets as Snowmaggedon and Snowpocalypse, was the snowiest season on record…
Well folks, the events here at Columbia are wrapping up. We hope you enjoyed our comments and summaries. Discussions on these issues will continue here at the Earth Institute, online and hopefully in your lives as well. On behalf of myself (Stephanie Ruiz), Jaclyn Carlsen, and Eric Couper, thanks for joining us online today. Wrap…
Update | 3:37 p.m. The break continues as the audience awaits the Secretary-General’s speech with anticipation. Update | 3:58 p.m And we’re back! Sachs introduces Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, with a clear respect, friendship, and a little humor to boot. Update | 4:02 p.m. Ban Ki-moon takes the stage. He shares that beyond being a…
Update | 1:35p.m. Good afternoon. We are back and about to get started. Jeffrey Sachs returns to the stage. He introduces our first speaker of the afternoon, President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa of Mexico. Mexico will be hosting the next climate change conference in Cancun later this year. President Calderón will provide vision for this conference.…
And we’re back with session II: Poverty – How Do We Achieve the Millennium Development Goals? Update | 11:15 a.m. The conversation begins with a short, but complex question: How are we doing with the MDGs? A panel of experts including HRH Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, Glenn Denning, Professor of Processional Practice, Columbia University, Upmanu…
Hans Vestberg reveals shocking stats Update | 8:48 a.m. Hans Vestberg, President and CEO, Ericsson takes the stage after Jeff Sachs and reveals some astounding statistics. Today, 4.6 people have mobile phones. Half a billion people have broadband. On the Chinese New Year 23 billion SMS were sent. In the upcoming years it’s predicted that…
Update | 8:40 a.m. Hi everybody. The State of the Planet event is about to begin. The lights are darkening here at Lerner Hall at Columbia University. This year’s conference will address Climate Change, Poverty, Economic Recovery and International Systems. We begin today’s event with a panel on Climate Change. Jeff Sachs, Matthew Bishop and…
Our ICE Bridge team of 34 scientists and NASA personnel has piled mounds of equipment, luggage, and emergency Arctic survival gear into the DC-8, setting off just before midnight for Thule, Greenland.All but two of the seats are filled, and every possible open area has been piled with our supplies for the next few weeks.Our…