State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

climate matters19

  • La Niña Rolls On

    La Niña Rolls On

    The current moderate-to-strong La Niña is expected to continue through at least the middle of spring, said forecasters at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society’s monthly climate briefing.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 1/16

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 1/16

    For Many Species, No Escape as Temperature Rises, New York Times, Jan. 21 Adding to existing stressors from deforestation and habitat loss, climate change is expected to further harm populations of mountain dwelling animals. While other species traditionally seek higher elevation in response to warming, mountains species cannot do so, as they are limited by…

  • The Last Arctic Sea Ice Refuge

    The Last Arctic Sea Ice Refuge

    If climate change proceeds apace, summer sea ice in the Arctic is projected to nearly disappear by the end of this century. But a group of researchers predicts that ice will continue to collect in one small area, perhaps providing a last-ditch stand for ringed seals, polar bears and other creatures that cannot live without…

  • Climate News Roundup – Cancun Summit

    Climate News Roundup – Cancun Summit

    Baird to Flaunt Climate Cash at Cancun Talks Toronto Star, Dec 6. Canada has committed a $400 million package to assist developing nations reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. Canada’s environment minister John Baird highlighted the fact that while Canada is responsible for 2% of global emissions, it is paying for 4% of the…

  • Climate News Roundup – Week of 11/21 and 11/28

    Climate News Roundup – Week of 11/21 and 11/28

    Siberia’s Climate Bomb: Thawing Permafrost Could Spell Disaster: Associate Press, Nov. 21 Methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent per molecule than carbon dioxide, is seeping from Sibera’s frozen soil and lakes at an accelerated rate due to global warming. While the 1.5 trillion tons of carbon trapped under the permafrost may be a “ticking…

  • The Skeptic Series, Part I:  Earth is Not Warming: Temperatures Haven’t Risen

    The Skeptic Series, Part I: Earth is Not Warming: Temperatures Haven’t Risen

    Observations such as glacier retreat, decreasing Arctic sea ice, and rising sea levels, are consistent with rising temperatures and support the conclusion that Earth is warming.

  • What the U.S. Midterm ‘Shellacking’ Means for Energy Policy

    President Obama’s midterm “shellacking,”  to use his own term, was hailed by some pundits as the official death of “cap and trade.” Obama himself declared that there would be no comprehensive energy reform bill in the foreseeable future. Instead, he advocates working with Republicans to pass smaller “piecemeal” legislation. Obama remarked in a White House…

  • Climate Solutions, Nation by Nation

    Climate Solutions, Nation by Nation

    This summer, the Earth Institute launched the Global Network for Climate Solutions (GNCS), a research-driven effort to inform and promote international climate change negotiations and activities on a country-by-country basis. Since then, the GNCS has begun facilitating the design of specific adaptation and mitigation efforts through a virtual network of international experts, universities, government agencies, research…

  • COP16 event on Climate Services & Disaster Risk

    December 3: COP16 event in Cancún on Climate Services and Disaster Risk Management.

  • La Niña Rolls On

    La Niña Rolls On

    The current moderate-to-strong La Niña is expected to continue through at least the middle of spring, said forecasters at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society’s monthly climate briefing.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 1/16

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 1/16

    For Many Species, No Escape as Temperature Rises, New York Times, Jan. 21 Adding to existing stressors from deforestation and habitat loss, climate change is expected to further harm populations of mountain dwelling animals. While other species traditionally seek higher elevation in response to warming, mountains species cannot do so, as they are limited by…

  • The Last Arctic Sea Ice Refuge

    The Last Arctic Sea Ice Refuge

    If climate change proceeds apace, summer sea ice in the Arctic is projected to nearly disappear by the end of this century. But a group of researchers predicts that ice will continue to collect in one small area, perhaps providing a last-ditch stand for ringed seals, polar bears and other creatures that cannot live without…

  • Climate News Roundup – Cancun Summit

    Climate News Roundup – Cancun Summit

    Baird to Flaunt Climate Cash at Cancun Talks Toronto Star, Dec 6. Canada has committed a $400 million package to assist developing nations reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. Canada’s environment minister John Baird highlighted the fact that while Canada is responsible for 2% of global emissions, it is paying for 4% of the…

  • Climate News Roundup – Week of 11/21 and 11/28

    Climate News Roundup – Week of 11/21 and 11/28

    Siberia’s Climate Bomb: Thawing Permafrost Could Spell Disaster: Associate Press, Nov. 21 Methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent per molecule than carbon dioxide, is seeping from Sibera’s frozen soil and lakes at an accelerated rate due to global warming. While the 1.5 trillion tons of carbon trapped under the permafrost may be a “ticking…

  • The Skeptic Series, Part I:  Earth is Not Warming: Temperatures Haven’t Risen

    The Skeptic Series, Part I: Earth is Not Warming: Temperatures Haven’t Risen

    Observations such as glacier retreat, decreasing Arctic sea ice, and rising sea levels, are consistent with rising temperatures and support the conclusion that Earth is warming.

  • What the U.S. Midterm ‘Shellacking’ Means for Energy Policy

    President Obama’s midterm “shellacking,”  to use his own term, was hailed by some pundits as the official death of “cap and trade.” Obama himself declared that there would be no comprehensive energy reform bill in the foreseeable future. Instead, he advocates working with Republicans to pass smaller “piecemeal” legislation. Obama remarked in a White House…

  • Climate Solutions, Nation by Nation

    Climate Solutions, Nation by Nation

    This summer, the Earth Institute launched the Global Network for Climate Solutions (GNCS), a research-driven effort to inform and promote international climate change negotiations and activities on a country-by-country basis. Since then, the GNCS has begun facilitating the design of specific adaptation and mitigation efforts through a virtual network of international experts, universities, government agencies, research…

  • COP16 event on Climate Services & Disaster Risk

    December 3: COP16 event in Cancún on Climate Services and Disaster Risk Management.