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

  • Wednesday, April 23, 2025 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Where: The Forum at Columbia University, 601 W. 125th St., New York, NY 10027 Description: BUILDING BACK BETTER (BBB) IN HATAY, TURKIYE: LESSONS IN URBAN RESILIENCE. This panel discussion emerges from the Columbia Global Center in Istanbul’s Global Resilience Fund project “Building Back Better in Hatay: Co-Designing a Multi-Stakeholder, Multi-Risk Informed Urban Development Approach”. Based on our ongoing work in the […]
  • Tuesday, April 22, 2025 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Where: The Forum at Columbia University, 601 W. 125th St., New York, NY 10027 Description: In celebration of Earth Day 2025’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, the Columbia Climate School invites you to an event highlighting the latest advancements and opportunities in the energy sector from our distinguished faculty. This program will explore renewable energy’s crucial role in addressing climate change and the cutting-edge […]
  • Monday, April 21, 2025 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM Where: The Forum at Columbia University, 601 W. 125th St., New York, NY 10027 Description: This is the sixth in a series of annual conferences kicked off on Earth Day 2022 at Columbia University, which have been produced through a joint collaboration between The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce and Columbia Climate School in partnership with The City College of New […]

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