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 […]
  • Monday, February 2, 2026 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM Where: Interchurch Center, 475 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10027 Description: ***ALL GUESTS MUST ENTER THROUGH the 61 Claremont Ave entrance***   PLEASE REGISTER HERE.   The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), along with co-sponsors Columbia Law School’s Environmental Law Society and the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law, with support from the Columbia Energy Association, welcomes Thea Riofrancos for a talk on her […]

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