State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

climate matters7

  • Video: Is Drought In East Africa The New Normal?

    Video: Is Drought In East Africa The New Normal?

    A video interview with climate scientist Bradfield Lyon, who explains his latest research on what’s driving rainfall patterns in parts of East Africa.

  • World Climate Policies: Substantial Progress But Enormous Challenges Remain

    World Climate Policies: Substantial Progress But Enormous Challenges Remain

    Recent analysis by Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisory (DBCCA) in conjunction with the Columbia Climate Center, shows that the existing world climate policies have the potential to substantially reduce CO2 emissions, but are not aggressive enough to meet the suggested 450 ppm stabilization pathways.

  • Warming and the Water Cycle: More than Just a Faster Wetter Wet and Drier Dry

    Warming and the Water Cycle: More than Just a Faster Wetter Wet and Drier Dry

    One of the most serious consequences of global warming is its predicted impact on the water cycle.  A new study, described below, presents evidence that the global water cycle is changing even faster than predicted.  A further concern is that future rainfall patterns may be extremely variable in both space and time. As the atmosphere…

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 4/08

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 4/08

    EU CO2 law could scupper global climate talks, Reuters, Apr 11 A European Union law that charges airlines for carbon emissions is “a deal-breaker” for global climate change talks, India’s environment minister said, hardening her stance on a scheme that has drawn fierce opposition from non-EU governments. U.S. airlines have said they would grudgingly comply,…

  • EPA Announces New Performance Standards for Power Plants

    EPA Announces New Performance Standards for Power Plants

    EPA recently announced new performance standards for power plants that limit carbon dioxide emissions. The proposed rule formally recognizes the importance of regulating carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas and effectively eliminates the construction of conventional coal plants.

  • More Food Insecurity Expected in Horn of Africa

    More Food Insecurity Expected in Horn of Africa

    The current rainy season in the Horn of Africa is off to a poor start, and fear of famine once again looms large for the region.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 4/01

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 4/01

    EPA to impose first greenhouse gas limits on power plants, Washington Post, Mar 27 The US EPA issued its first regulations addressing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The regulation is a New Source Performance Standard, meaning that it applies only to new power plants that are not yet permitted or under construction. The standard…

  • Oil Stains on Direct Air Capture?

    Affordable direct air capture could shape long-term climate mitigation options. Point source emissions may be the first to be addressed, but the climate change problem is not resolved until the carbon dioxide from the transportation sector is also dealt with. Conflating air capture with a carbon dioxide consuming application like the environmentally questionable EOR should…

  • 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.

  • Video: Is Drought In East Africa The New Normal?

    Video: Is Drought In East Africa The New Normal?

    A video interview with climate scientist Bradfield Lyon, who explains his latest research on what’s driving rainfall patterns in parts of East Africa.

  • World Climate Policies: Substantial Progress But Enormous Challenges Remain

    World Climate Policies: Substantial Progress But Enormous Challenges Remain

    Recent analysis by Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisory (DBCCA) in conjunction with the Columbia Climate Center, shows that the existing world climate policies have the potential to substantially reduce CO2 emissions, but are not aggressive enough to meet the suggested 450 ppm stabilization pathways.

  • Warming and the Water Cycle: More than Just a Faster Wetter Wet and Drier Dry

    Warming and the Water Cycle: More than Just a Faster Wetter Wet and Drier Dry

    One of the most serious consequences of global warming is its predicted impact on the water cycle.  A new study, described below, presents evidence that the global water cycle is changing even faster than predicted.  A further concern is that future rainfall patterns may be extremely variable in both space and time. As the atmosphere…

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 4/08

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 4/08

    EU CO2 law could scupper global climate talks, Reuters, Apr 11 A European Union law that charges airlines for carbon emissions is “a deal-breaker” for global climate change talks, India’s environment minister said, hardening her stance on a scheme that has drawn fierce opposition from non-EU governments. U.S. airlines have said they would grudgingly comply,…

  • EPA Announces New Performance Standards for Power Plants

    EPA Announces New Performance Standards for Power Plants

    EPA recently announced new performance standards for power plants that limit carbon dioxide emissions. The proposed rule formally recognizes the importance of regulating carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas and effectively eliminates the construction of conventional coal plants.

  • More Food Insecurity Expected in Horn of Africa

    More Food Insecurity Expected in Horn of Africa

    The current rainy season in the Horn of Africa is off to a poor start, and fear of famine once again looms large for the region.

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 4/01

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 4/01

    EPA to impose first greenhouse gas limits on power plants, Washington Post, Mar 27 The US EPA issued its first regulations addressing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The regulation is a New Source Performance Standard, meaning that it applies only to new power plants that are not yet permitted or under construction. The standard…

  • Oil Stains on Direct Air Capture?

    Affordable direct air capture could shape long-term climate mitigation options. Point source emissions may be the first to be addressed, but the climate change problem is not resolved until the carbon dioxide from the transportation sector is also dealt with. Conflating air capture with a carbon dioxide consuming application like the environmentally questionable EOR should…

  • 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.