State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

American Geophysical Union4

  • Africa: An Air Pollution Wildcard

    Africa: An Air Pollution Wildcard

    Atmospheric scientists discover surprising levels and unexpected types of pollution that seem to be originating in Africa.

  • Current Megadrought in the West Could Be One of the Worst in History

    Current Megadrought in the West Could Be One of the Worst in History

    A 19-year drought in the American West is one of the most severe in the past 1200 years—and climate change is partially to blame, according to new research.

  • What’s Climate Doing to Guatemala’s Coffee?

    What’s Climate Doing to Guatemala’s Coffee?

    Diego Pons discusses his recent work on exploring the relationships between several climatic variables and coffee productivity in a region of Guatemala.

  • Q&A: Climate Information for Food Systems

    Q&A: Climate Information for Food Systems

    Scientists at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society are studying how much climate plays a role in the global food supply, identifying food system vulnerabilities in specific areas, using new kinds of climate information in agricultural modeling, and more.

  • Q&A: Using Farmers’ Perceptions as Data

    Q&A: Using Farmers’ Perceptions as Data

    Researchers at IRI have been developing index insurance, which would provide a safety net for farmers who experience devastating climate events such as droughts and floods that severely impact their crop yields.

  • The Latest in Subseasonal Climate Prediction

    The Latest in Subseasonal Climate Prediction

    Until recently, predicting rainfall and temperature at the subseasonal timescale (i.e. between two weeks and three months) was considered impossible. That’s beginning to change.

  • Lessening the Impacts of Climate Shocks to Agriculture

    Lessening the Impacts of Climate Shocks to Agriculture

    In this video, IRI’s Lisa Goddard discusses index insurance and forecast-based financing as tools to reduce climate impacts in vulnerable communities.

  • Q&A: Forecast-Based Financing for Flash Floods

    Q&A: Forecast-Based Financing for Flash Floods

    A Q&A with IRI’s Andrew Kruczkiewicz about a new mechanism for taking early humanitarian action based on weather forecast information and socioeconomic risk analysis.

  • How Climate Impacts Solar and Wind Power Supply

    How Climate Impacts Solar and Wind Power Supply

    New research shows that long-term weather patterns could have a huge effect on the success of renewable energy

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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!

  • Africa: An Air Pollution Wildcard

    Africa: An Air Pollution Wildcard

    Atmospheric scientists discover surprising levels and unexpected types of pollution that seem to be originating in Africa.

  • Current Megadrought in the West Could Be One of the Worst in History

    Current Megadrought in the West Could Be One of the Worst in History

    A 19-year drought in the American West is one of the most severe in the past 1200 years—and climate change is partially to blame, according to new research.

  • What’s Climate Doing to Guatemala’s Coffee?

    What’s Climate Doing to Guatemala’s Coffee?

    Diego Pons discusses his recent work on exploring the relationships between several climatic variables and coffee productivity in a region of Guatemala.

  • Q&A: Climate Information for Food Systems

    Q&A: Climate Information for Food Systems

    Scientists at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society are studying how much climate plays a role in the global food supply, identifying food system vulnerabilities in specific areas, using new kinds of climate information in agricultural modeling, and more.

  • Q&A: Using Farmers’ Perceptions as Data

    Q&A: Using Farmers’ Perceptions as Data

    Researchers at IRI have been developing index insurance, which would provide a safety net for farmers who experience devastating climate events such as droughts and floods that severely impact their crop yields.

  • The Latest in Subseasonal Climate Prediction

    The Latest in Subseasonal Climate Prediction

    Until recently, predicting rainfall and temperature at the subseasonal timescale (i.e. between two weeks and three months) was considered impossible. That’s beginning to change.

  • Lessening the Impacts of Climate Shocks to Agriculture

    Lessening the Impacts of Climate Shocks to Agriculture

    In this video, IRI’s Lisa Goddard discusses index insurance and forecast-based financing as tools to reduce climate impacts in vulnerable communities.

  • Q&A: Forecast-Based Financing for Flash Floods

    Q&A: Forecast-Based Financing for Flash Floods

    A Q&A with IRI’s Andrew Kruczkiewicz about a new mechanism for taking early humanitarian action based on weather forecast information and socioeconomic risk analysis.

  • How Climate Impacts Solar and Wind Power Supply

    How Climate Impacts Solar and Wind Power Supply

    New research shows that long-term weather patterns could have a huge effect on the success of renewable energy