State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

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  • Getting the Tools to Get Hired

    Getting the Tools to Get Hired

    Alan Burchell is the founder and principal of Urbanstrong, which he started shortly after graduating from Columbia’s Master of Science in Sustainability Management program in 2014. When choosing courses, Alan encourages MSSM students to fill up their tool belts. In his experience, “Knowledge is great, but tools get you hired.” Alan recommends to take classes…

  • Redefining our Relationship to Energy

    Redefining our Relationship to Energy

    MSSM alum Diana McCarthy-Bercury (’16) commuted from New Haven, Conn., to attend the MSSM program from 2012 to 2015. Diana is currently an energy efficiency program manager at Eversource, an electric and natural gas utility in New England, which specializes in energy services. She is determined to leave a mark by not leaving a mark.

  • Resiliency Strategies to Sustain Businesses and Livelihoods

    Resiliency Strategies to Sustain Businesses and Livelihoods

    Sustainability Management alum Krista Eichenbaum (’16) moved from Toronto to attend the MSSM program to better address resiliency challenges in cities. She is currently Project Analyst and Manager at a women-owned engineering consulting firm, specializing in civil engineering, urban planning, and sustainability.

  • Balancing Development and Preservation in an Urban National Park

    Balancing Development and Preservation in an Urban National Park

    Nairobi National Park is the only wildlife park in the world within a city’s administrative boundaries. However, the park’s value to its greater ecosystem, as well as its role in promoting conservation throughout Kenya, are under threat due to recent urban and infrastructure developments.

  • MSSM Alum Named to 2016 GreenBiz ’30 under 30′

    MSSM Alum Named to 2016 GreenBiz ’30 under 30′

    Prerna Chatterjee (MSSM’15) has been named one of the “30 under 30” people to watch in sustainable business by GreenBiz Group.

  • Student Work Helps Establish Conservation Act in Palau

    Student Work Helps Establish Conservation Act in Palau

    David Prieto, graduate of the Earth Institute Sustainability Management program, helped establish the first Manta Ray Conservation Act in the Republic of Palau, aiding the creation of the 6th largest marine sanctuary in the world.

  • ESP Alum Focuses on International Development and Conservation

    ESP Alum Focuses on International Development and Conservation

    Ashley Toombs, a 2015 graduate of the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program, recently joined BRAC USA, a poverty alleviation and international development organization founded in the 1970s in Bangladesh and now operating in 12 countries in Asia and Africa.

  • Citi’s Sustainability Strategy

    Citi’s Sustainability Strategy

    In 2015, Citi announced a new environmental finance goal to lend, invest and facilitate $100 billion over 10 years towards activities focused on environmental solutions and reducing the impacts of climate change globally.

  • The Challenging Question: What is Sustainable Development?

    The Challenging Question: What is Sustainable Development?

    “Ever since I started studying sustainable development, the big question has always been how to define and speak about it. I have come to notice more and more how important this question is as I spend my days conversing with different people on the topic.”

Blue banner with kids and Earth photos. Text: "Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House, Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10am-4pm.

On Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 10am to 4pm, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House—our biggest, best science fun and discovery event of the year—will take place on our beautiful campus in Palisades, NY. Mark your calendar and join us for this free, family-friendly celebration of science! RSVP Today!

  • Getting the Tools to Get Hired

    Getting the Tools to Get Hired

    Alan Burchell is the founder and principal of Urbanstrong, which he started shortly after graduating from Columbia’s Master of Science in Sustainability Management program in 2014. When choosing courses, Alan encourages MSSM students to fill up their tool belts. In his experience, “Knowledge is great, but tools get you hired.” Alan recommends to take classes…

  • Redefining our Relationship to Energy

    Redefining our Relationship to Energy

    MSSM alum Diana McCarthy-Bercury (’16) commuted from New Haven, Conn., to attend the MSSM program from 2012 to 2015. Diana is currently an energy efficiency program manager at Eversource, an electric and natural gas utility in New England, which specializes in energy services. She is determined to leave a mark by not leaving a mark.

  • Resiliency Strategies to Sustain Businesses and Livelihoods

    Resiliency Strategies to Sustain Businesses and Livelihoods

    Sustainability Management alum Krista Eichenbaum (’16) moved from Toronto to attend the MSSM program to better address resiliency challenges in cities. She is currently Project Analyst and Manager at a women-owned engineering consulting firm, specializing in civil engineering, urban planning, and sustainability.

  • Balancing Development and Preservation in an Urban National Park

    Balancing Development and Preservation in an Urban National Park

    Nairobi National Park is the only wildlife park in the world within a city’s administrative boundaries. However, the park’s value to its greater ecosystem, as well as its role in promoting conservation throughout Kenya, are under threat due to recent urban and infrastructure developments.

  • MSSM Alum Named to 2016 GreenBiz ’30 under 30′

    MSSM Alum Named to 2016 GreenBiz ’30 under 30′

    Prerna Chatterjee (MSSM’15) has been named one of the “30 under 30” people to watch in sustainable business by GreenBiz Group.

  • Student Work Helps Establish Conservation Act in Palau

    Student Work Helps Establish Conservation Act in Palau

    David Prieto, graduate of the Earth Institute Sustainability Management program, helped establish the first Manta Ray Conservation Act in the Republic of Palau, aiding the creation of the 6th largest marine sanctuary in the world.

  • ESP Alum Focuses on International Development and Conservation

    ESP Alum Focuses on International Development and Conservation

    Ashley Toombs, a 2015 graduate of the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy program, recently joined BRAC USA, a poverty alleviation and international development organization founded in the 1970s in Bangladesh and now operating in 12 countries in Asia and Africa.

  • Citi’s Sustainability Strategy

    Citi’s Sustainability Strategy

    In 2015, Citi announced a new environmental finance goal to lend, invest and facilitate $100 billion over 10 years towards activities focused on environmental solutions and reducing the impacts of climate change globally.

  • The Challenging Question: What is Sustainable Development?

    The Challenging Question: What is Sustainable Development?

    “Ever since I started studying sustainable development, the big question has always been how to define and speak about it. I have come to notice more and more how important this question is as I spend my days conversing with different people on the topic.”