State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

climate change110

  • Larry Gibson and the Lobster Boat

    Larry Gibson and the Lobster Boat

    There are many brave people who recognize the climate crisis and are beginning to stand up and take personal risks to try to stop expansion of the fossil fuel industry, across the United States, in Canada, and in other nations. Their courage is remarkable and I hope it has an awakening effect.

  • Shift in Arabian Sea Plankton May Threaten Fisheries

    Growing "Dead Zone" Could Short-Circuit Food Chain

  • How Climate Change Is Exacerbating the Spread of Disease

    How Climate Change Is Exacerbating the Spread of Disease

    Contagious diseases are on the rise as a result of climate change and other rapid environmental and social changes. A number of climate-sensitive diseases are expected to worsen with higher temperatures and more extreme weather.

  • Kenneth Hunkins, Arctic Oceanographer

    While Adrift on Ice Floes, He Charted Unexplored Depths

  • Reduce, Reuse and Re-(bi)cycle

    Reduce, Reuse and Re-(bi)cycle

    Audra Stark plans to pedal 300 miles from New York City to Washington, D.C., from Sept. 20-24 to raise money for The Earth Institute and other organizations working on the issues of climate, environment and transportation. “Too often I’ve found myself and others complaining about and debating an issue without taking action in our daily…

  • A Summit for Young Climate Leaders

    A Summit for Young Climate Leaders

    We created CliMates in 2011. Our dream was to find new ways for youth worldwide to work together on climate change. In less than a year, CliMates grew into a network of several hundred students and young professionals across all continents and from different academic backgrounds. This year, the 2nd CliMates International Summit will take…

  • Climate Change or Public Health: Which Matters More?

    Climate Change or Public Health: Which Matters More?

    A new study by Earth Institute researchers suggests that talking about the human health impacts of air pollution related to burning fossil fuels might make a more convincing argument for action among conservatives, who are generally more skeptical of the scientific evidence for climate change.

  • Solving the Mysteries of Carbon Dioxide

    Solving the Mysteries of Carbon Dioxide

    About 50 percent of the CO2 produced by human activity remains in the atmosphere, warming the planet. But scientists don’t know where and how oceans and plants have absorbed the rest of the manmade CO2. To try to answer these questions, on July 2, 2014, NASA launched the $468 million Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2), its…

  • Ancient Ocean Currents May Have Changed Pacing and Intensity of Ice Ages

    Slowing of Currents May Have Flipped Switch, Says Study

Overhead view of Columbia campus with text Columbia Climate School Class Day 2026: Congratulations Graduates

Congratulations to our Columbia Climate School Class of 2026 and all of our 2026 Columbia University graduates! Learn more about our May 15 Climate School Class Day celebration. 💙 #Columbia2026 #ColumbiaClimate2026

  • Larry Gibson and the Lobster Boat

    Larry Gibson and the Lobster Boat

    There are many brave people who recognize the climate crisis and are beginning to stand up and take personal risks to try to stop expansion of the fossil fuel industry, across the United States, in Canada, and in other nations. Their courage is remarkable and I hope it has an awakening effect.

  • Shift in Arabian Sea Plankton May Threaten Fisheries

    Growing "Dead Zone" Could Short-Circuit Food Chain

  • How Climate Change Is Exacerbating the Spread of Disease

    How Climate Change Is Exacerbating the Spread of Disease

    Contagious diseases are on the rise as a result of climate change and other rapid environmental and social changes. A number of climate-sensitive diseases are expected to worsen with higher temperatures and more extreme weather.

  • Kenneth Hunkins, Arctic Oceanographer

    While Adrift on Ice Floes, He Charted Unexplored Depths

  • Reduce, Reuse and Re-(bi)cycle

    Reduce, Reuse and Re-(bi)cycle

    Audra Stark plans to pedal 300 miles from New York City to Washington, D.C., from Sept. 20-24 to raise money for The Earth Institute and other organizations working on the issues of climate, environment and transportation. “Too often I’ve found myself and others complaining about and debating an issue without taking action in our daily…

  • A Summit for Young Climate Leaders

    A Summit for Young Climate Leaders

    We created CliMates in 2011. Our dream was to find new ways for youth worldwide to work together on climate change. In less than a year, CliMates grew into a network of several hundred students and young professionals across all continents and from different academic backgrounds. This year, the 2nd CliMates International Summit will take…

  • Climate Change or Public Health: Which Matters More?

    Climate Change or Public Health: Which Matters More?

    A new study by Earth Institute researchers suggests that talking about the human health impacts of air pollution related to burning fossil fuels might make a more convincing argument for action among conservatives, who are generally more skeptical of the scientific evidence for climate change.

  • Solving the Mysteries of Carbon Dioxide

    Solving the Mysteries of Carbon Dioxide

    About 50 percent of the CO2 produced by human activity remains in the atmosphere, warming the planet. But scientists don’t know where and how oceans and plants have absorbed the rest of the manmade CO2. To try to answer these questions, on July 2, 2014, NASA launched the $468 million Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2), its…

  • Ancient Ocean Currents May Have Changed Pacing and Intensity of Ice Ages

    Slowing of Currents May Have Flipped Switch, Says Study