State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

World map showing colored regions of climate change temperature anomalies.

Climate Change

Climate change — caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrialization — is one of the most urgent challenges facing our planet. These activities increase greenhouse gas emissions, trapping heat in the atmosphere and disrupting global climate systems. The impacts are far-reaching, from more frequent extreme weather events to rising sea levels and ecosystem shifts. Tackling climate change will require a sustained commitment to cutting emissions, transitioning to renewable energy, and strengthening resilience in vulnerable communities worldwide.


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Upcoming Events

  • Thursday, April 30, 2026 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Where: Buell Hall, 515 W. 116 St., New York, NY 10027 Description: The Ocean on Fire: Pacific Stories from Nuclear Survivors and Climate Activists Anaïs Maurer Bombarded with the equivalent of one Hiroshima bomb a day for half a century, Pacific people have long been subjected to man-made cataclysm. Well before climate change became a global concern, nuclear testing brought about […]
  • Tuesday, March 10, 2026 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Where: TBD Description: Asia Society Policy Institute & Columbia Climate School Program Asia Society 725 Park Avenue New York, NY 10021 Asia Society Members: $15; Non-Members: $25 Buy Event Tickets Nearly a decade after countries adopted the Paris Agreement and endorsed its goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the average global temperature surpassed this benchmark for the […]
  • Monday, March 9, 2026 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Where: Pulitzer Hall, 2950 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 Description: Perspectives Dialogue Series | “Degrowth vs. green growth: can capitalism solve climate change?” The Perspectives Dialogue Series is a flagship public forum of the Columbia Climate School, created to elevate rigorous, solutions-oriented conversations on climate questions that do not have easy answers. Each Dialogue brings together leading voices with distinct perspectives […]

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