State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

climate40

  • The Sphinx of Greenland

    The Sphinx of Greenland

    I had been warned of Geikie. “If they fly to Geikie get on that flight” I had been told, but nothing more.

  • 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,…

  • Connecting the past, the present and the future to understand climate

    Connecting the past, the present and the future to understand climate

    Over 100,000 years of Arctic climate data has been linked in the last two days of Ice Bridge missions. When you see the names DYE2, EGIG, GRIP, Ice Bridge and MABEL you view the elite list of Arctic science projects that deliver(ed) groundbreaking climate information through the last 50 years, and if all goes as…

  • Leveraging the Moment

    Leveraging the Moment

    Time takes on a new meaning in the field. Every moment is compressed in order to gain maximum yield. Applying human accounting, field time is limited by available resources, personnel, and funds, while using nature’s accounting the limits shift to windows of weather, and seasonality for ice phenomena. In the field both human and nature…

  • On the Heels of History

    On the Heels of History

    Perhaps the most natural connection between the explorations of the past and today’s carefully planned scientific missions is through the hand of fate and the crush of nature.

  • 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…

  • The Climate Irony Catches Greenland

    The Climate Irony Catches Greenland

    In mid-season, the Ice Bridge mission is assessing land ice along the Greenland perimeter and interior, to measure the impact of a changing climate in one of the most remote places on Earth.

  • 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.

  • Deeper than Water — New Video and Infographics from the Columbia Water Center

    Deeper than Water — New Video and Infographics from the Columbia Water Center

    As population grows and demand for food and products increase, so does our demand for water. But in the face of growing pressure on our water resources from depletion, pollution and climate change, we need to make more of what we have.

Earth Month Graphic Collage: "Our Power, Our Planet - April 2025"

The first Earth Day in 1970 ignited a movement to stop polluting our planet. This Earth Month, 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.

  • The Sphinx of Greenland

    The Sphinx of Greenland

    I had been warned of Geikie. “If they fly to Geikie get on that flight” I had been told, but nothing more.

  • 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,…

  • Connecting the past, the present and the future to understand climate

    Connecting the past, the present and the future to understand climate

    Over 100,000 years of Arctic climate data has been linked in the last two days of Ice Bridge missions. When you see the names DYE2, EGIG, GRIP, Ice Bridge and MABEL you view the elite list of Arctic science projects that deliver(ed) groundbreaking climate information through the last 50 years, and if all goes as…

  • Leveraging the Moment

    Leveraging the Moment

    Time takes on a new meaning in the field. Every moment is compressed in order to gain maximum yield. Applying human accounting, field time is limited by available resources, personnel, and funds, while using nature’s accounting the limits shift to windows of weather, and seasonality for ice phenomena. In the field both human and nature…

  • On the Heels of History

    On the Heels of History

    Perhaps the most natural connection between the explorations of the past and today’s carefully planned scientific missions is through the hand of fate and the crush of nature.

  • 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…

  • The Climate Irony Catches Greenland

    The Climate Irony Catches Greenland

    In mid-season, the Ice Bridge mission is assessing land ice along the Greenland perimeter and interior, to measure the impact of a changing climate in one of the most remote places on Earth.

  • 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.

  • Deeper than Water — New Video and Infographics from the Columbia Water Center

    Deeper than Water — New Video and Infographics from the Columbia Water Center

    As population grows and demand for food and products increase, so does our demand for water. But in the face of growing pressure on our water resources from depletion, pollution and climate change, we need to make more of what we have.