State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

climate change124

  • Top Planetary Scientist to Lead Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

    Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger and Provost John H. Coatsworth have named Sean C. Solomon, a leading geophysicist whose research has combined studies of the deep earth with missions to the moon and the solar system’s inner planets, to be director of Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Solomon, a research scientist and director emeritus at…

  • Rare Earth Metals: Another Challenge for the Green Economy?

    Rare Earth Metals: Another Challenge for the Green Economy?

    Rare earth metals play an important role in our envisaged carbon-free future, but their availability in the future is under question for different political and availability issues, which is worrying for planned reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Carbon Management Distinguished Speaker Series

    Carbon Management Distinguished Speaker Series

    The Earth Institute’s Columbia Climate Center presents “Managing Carbon on Land in the Context of Climate Change,” with Richard Houghton, Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Research Center as part of a new Carbon Management Distinguished Speaker Series.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/11

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/11

    Slicing Silicon Thinner to Cut the Price of Solar Cells, NY Times, Mar 13: The cost of silicon has been an important barrier to expanding the penetration of solar photovoltaic power. New manufacturing techniques using less silicon could help dramatically reduce the price of producing solar cells, potentially helping expand the industry and bringing down…

  • New Study Lowers Estimate of Ancient Sea-Level Rise

    But Projections for Increase Today Still Loom Large

  • Facing the Food and Water Challenges of the Future

    Facing the Food and Water Challenges of the Future

    The global population, now 7 billion, is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050 and will require 70 percent more food than we are producing today, and much more water for agriculture, drinking and industry. Will we have enough water to meet the demand?

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/04

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/04

    Climate Change May Kill OFF 900 Bird Species, Treehugger, Mar 7 Scientists say climate change is likely to drive up to 900 bird species into extinction by the end of the century unless additional conservation measures are taken. Tropical bird species are particularly vulnerable because they are adapted to living in a stable climate, where…

  • Climate change may be affecting the jet stream

    Climate change may be affecting the jet stream

    A new study provides evidence that climate change may be affecting the northern hemisphere jet stream, which appears to be moving north and slowing down. The slowing of the jet stream could cause weather patterns to remain in place for longer, resulting in prolonged heat waves or cold snaps.

  • One Planet, Too Many People?

    One Planet, Too Many People?

    Can we manage the needs of 9 billion people for water, food and energy without depleting our resources and ruining the environment? “The solutions,” says Tim Fox, “are all within the capability of existing technology.”

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

  • Top Planetary Scientist to Lead Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

    Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger and Provost John H. Coatsworth have named Sean C. Solomon, a leading geophysicist whose research has combined studies of the deep earth with missions to the moon and the solar system’s inner planets, to be director of Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Solomon, a research scientist and director emeritus at…

  • Rare Earth Metals: Another Challenge for the Green Economy?

    Rare Earth Metals: Another Challenge for the Green Economy?

    Rare earth metals play an important role in our envisaged carbon-free future, but their availability in the future is under question for different political and availability issues, which is worrying for planned reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Carbon Management Distinguished Speaker Series

    Carbon Management Distinguished Speaker Series

    The Earth Institute’s Columbia Climate Center presents “Managing Carbon on Land in the Context of Climate Change,” with Richard Houghton, Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Research Center as part of a new Carbon Management Distinguished Speaker Series.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/11

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/11

    Slicing Silicon Thinner to Cut the Price of Solar Cells, NY Times, Mar 13: The cost of silicon has been an important barrier to expanding the penetration of solar photovoltaic power. New manufacturing techniques using less silicon could help dramatically reduce the price of producing solar cells, potentially helping expand the industry and bringing down…

  • New Study Lowers Estimate of Ancient Sea-Level Rise

    But Projections for Increase Today Still Loom Large

  • Facing the Food and Water Challenges of the Future

    Facing the Food and Water Challenges of the Future

    The global population, now 7 billion, is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050 and will require 70 percent more food than we are producing today, and much more water for agriculture, drinking and industry. Will we have enough water to meet the demand?

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/04

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/04

    Climate Change May Kill OFF 900 Bird Species, Treehugger, Mar 7 Scientists say climate change is likely to drive up to 900 bird species into extinction by the end of the century unless additional conservation measures are taken. Tropical bird species are particularly vulnerable because they are adapted to living in a stable climate, where…

  • Climate change may be affecting the jet stream

    Climate change may be affecting the jet stream

    A new study provides evidence that climate change may be affecting the northern hemisphere jet stream, which appears to be moving north and slowing down. The slowing of the jet stream could cause weather patterns to remain in place for longer, resulting in prolonged heat waves or cold snaps.

  • One Planet, Too Many People?

    One Planet, Too Many People?

    Can we manage the needs of 9 billion people for water, food and energy without depleting our resources and ruining the environment? “The solutions,” says Tim Fox, “are all within the capability of existing technology.”