State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

climate change101

  • U.S. Could Cut Per Capita Greenhouse Emissions 90% by 2050, Says Report

    U.S. Could Cut Per Capita Greenhouse Emissions 90% by 2050, Says Report

    The report says it is possible to revamp the energy system in a way that reduces per capita carbon dioxide emissions from 17 tons per person currently to 1.7 tons in 2050, while still providing all the services people expect, from driving to air conditioning.

  • From Copenhagen to Paris: Low Expectations

    From Copenhagen to Paris: Low Expectations

    As we head to Paris, the expectations are profoundly lower. The national commitments that countries are putting on the table do not add up to nearly enough to keep us within 2 degrees; instead the plan is to come back every five years and hopefully do better. … It is still mathematically possible to stay…

  • From Copenhagen to Paris: Likely to Fail Again?

    From Copenhagen to Paris: Likely to Fail Again?

    All of the pledges made in Paris will be voluntary. However, countries have not always fulfilled their pledges in the past, and it isn’t obvious that this agreement is going to cause countries to behave very differently in the future.

  • In One Simple Line of Data You Can Read a Full Story

    In One Simple Line of Data You Can Read a Full Story

    The lines of data are slowly creeping across our Ross Ice Shelf GIS map and with each new line comes an improved understanding of Ross Ice Shelf. What can you learn from a ‘snapshot’ of data? A radar contains a nice story.

  • Peat Fires Choking Southeast Asia Pose a New Threat to Global Climate

    Peat Fires Choking Southeast Asia Pose a New Threat to Global Climate

    The Indonesian peat fires that have been choking cities across Southeast Asia with a yellow haze are creating more than a local menace—burning peat releases immense stores of CO2, contributing to global warming.

  • Before Paris, Cause for Optimism

    Before Paris, Cause for Optimism

    If the international community were to fully understand the threat of climate change, and the likely cost of mitigation and adaptation, perhaps we would commit to continued tax breaks and incentives, and propel the renewable energy transition toward completion. In the long run, I am sure this would be less expensive than coping with the…

  • How to Feed Everyone—and Protect the Environment

    How to Feed Everyone—and Protect the Environment

    More than 500 leaders in agricultural research and organizations from 67 countries came together for the 2nd International Conference on Global Food Security to discuss how we can achieve global food security while reconciling demands on the environment.

  • What Everyone Should Know About Climate Change

    What Everyone Should Know About Climate Change

    Young scientists sum it up: The climate is changing. We’re causing it. It’s going affect everyone, and be expensive. But we can do something about it. Watch the video…

  • Climate Through A Different Lens: Poverty, Inequality, Sustainability

    Climate Through A Different Lens: Poverty, Inequality, Sustainability

    Technology has brought us low-cost global communication, and also enabled a global economy. It has also brought us closer and further from each other. We now know more about other cultures. We also see the differences, and sharpen our sense of inequities. Perhaps, this, rather than a control of greenhouse gases, needs to be the…

Colorful icons representing nature, sustainable living, and renewable energy with text "Earth Day 2026"

The first Earth Day in 1970 ignited a movement to stop polluting our planet. Today, our scientists and experts are tackling the most pressing challenges to achieve real-world impact. This Earth Day, join us in our commitment to realizing a just and sustainable future for our planet. Visit our Earth Day website for ideas, resources, and inspiration.

  • U.S. Could Cut Per Capita Greenhouse Emissions 90% by 2050, Says Report

    U.S. Could Cut Per Capita Greenhouse Emissions 90% by 2050, Says Report

    The report says it is possible to revamp the energy system in a way that reduces per capita carbon dioxide emissions from 17 tons per person currently to 1.7 tons in 2050, while still providing all the services people expect, from driving to air conditioning.

  • From Copenhagen to Paris: Low Expectations

    From Copenhagen to Paris: Low Expectations

    As we head to Paris, the expectations are profoundly lower. The national commitments that countries are putting on the table do not add up to nearly enough to keep us within 2 degrees; instead the plan is to come back every five years and hopefully do better. … It is still mathematically possible to stay…

  • From Copenhagen to Paris: Likely to Fail Again?

    From Copenhagen to Paris: Likely to Fail Again?

    All of the pledges made in Paris will be voluntary. However, countries have not always fulfilled their pledges in the past, and it isn’t obvious that this agreement is going to cause countries to behave very differently in the future.

  • In One Simple Line of Data You Can Read a Full Story

    In One Simple Line of Data You Can Read a Full Story

    The lines of data are slowly creeping across our Ross Ice Shelf GIS map and with each new line comes an improved understanding of Ross Ice Shelf. What can you learn from a ‘snapshot’ of data? A radar contains a nice story.

  • Peat Fires Choking Southeast Asia Pose a New Threat to Global Climate

    Peat Fires Choking Southeast Asia Pose a New Threat to Global Climate

    The Indonesian peat fires that have been choking cities across Southeast Asia with a yellow haze are creating more than a local menace—burning peat releases immense stores of CO2, contributing to global warming.

  • Before Paris, Cause for Optimism

    Before Paris, Cause for Optimism

    If the international community were to fully understand the threat of climate change, and the likely cost of mitigation and adaptation, perhaps we would commit to continued tax breaks and incentives, and propel the renewable energy transition toward completion. In the long run, I am sure this would be less expensive than coping with the…

  • How to Feed Everyone—and Protect the Environment

    How to Feed Everyone—and Protect the Environment

    More than 500 leaders in agricultural research and organizations from 67 countries came together for the 2nd International Conference on Global Food Security to discuss how we can achieve global food security while reconciling demands on the environment.

  • What Everyone Should Know About Climate Change

    What Everyone Should Know About Climate Change

    Young scientists sum it up: The climate is changing. We’re causing it. It’s going affect everyone, and be expensive. But we can do something about it. Watch the video…

  • Climate Through A Different Lens: Poverty, Inequality, Sustainability

    Climate Through A Different Lens: Poverty, Inequality, Sustainability

    Technology has brought us low-cost global communication, and also enabled a global economy. It has also brought us closer and further from each other. We now know more about other cultures. We also see the differences, and sharpen our sense of inequities. Perhaps, this, rather than a control of greenhouse gases, needs to be the…