State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

buildings

  • All of the Biggest U.S. Cities Are Sinking

    All of the Biggest U.S. Cities Are Sinking

    From the coasts to the interior, urban areas are sinking. The main culprit: pumping of groundwater.

  • ‘Building’ Sustainability for Buildings

    ‘Building’ Sustainability for Buildings

    As part of the Spring 2020 Speaker Series, the CEO of Urban Green Council spoke to students about policy solutions to improve energy efficiency in buildings.

  • How Much Energy Does NYC Waste?

    How Much Energy Does NYC Waste?

    While the New York metropolitan area has been deemed the most wasteful megacity in the world, New York City is considered one of the world’s greenest. But how much energy does New York City waste and what is it doing about it?

  • Ideas for the Sustainable City: Green Buildings

    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…

Collage of Turkiye beach scene and Columbia University Campus with text: UN Climate Change Conference COP31, Antalya, Turkiye, Nov 9-20, 2026

COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More

  • All of the Biggest U.S. Cities Are Sinking

    All of the Biggest U.S. Cities Are Sinking

    From the coasts to the interior, urban areas are sinking. The main culprit: pumping of groundwater.

  • ‘Building’ Sustainability for Buildings

    ‘Building’ Sustainability for Buildings

    As part of the Spring 2020 Speaker Series, the CEO of Urban Green Council spoke to students about policy solutions to improve energy efficiency in buildings.

  • How Much Energy Does NYC Waste?

    How Much Energy Does NYC Waste?

    While the New York metropolitan area has been deemed the most wasteful megacity in the world, New York City is considered one of the world’s greenest. But how much energy does New York City waste and what is it doing about it?

  • Ideas for the Sustainable City: Green Buildings

    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…