State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment10

  • NYC is Selling Off Its Fossil Fuel Investments—Here’s Why That Matters

    NYC is Selling Off Its Fossil Fuel Investments—Here’s Why That Matters

    The City of New York joins a chorus of public and private entities refusing to support companies that contribute to climate change.

  • Is There a Human Right to Land?

    Is There a Human Right to Land?

    For people around the world, land is a source of food, shelter, and livelihoods. Given their importance, land rights are surely human rights—right?

  • 3 Uses for OpenLandContracts.org

    3 Uses for OpenLandContracts.org

    Kaitlin Cordes from the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment shares some of the ways she uses this repository of investor-state contracts.

  • Reflecting on OpenLandContracts.org’s First Two Years

    Reflecting on OpenLandContracts.org’s First Two Years

    Kaitlin Cordes from the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment looks back at the progress made by the repository of land investment contracts—and looks ahead to the challenges that await.

  • World Leaders Discuss a Global Pact for the Environment

    World Leaders Discuss a Global Pact for the Environment

    A conference at Columbia University yielded consensus on the need for an international environmental agreement, and advanced discussion on what that agreement could look like.

  • Lorenzo Cotula and Thierry Berger On Transparency around Land Investment Contracts

    Lorenzo Cotula and Thierry Berger On Transparency around Land Investment Contracts

    The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) spoke with Lorenzo Cotula and Thierry Berger about OpenLandContracts.org, the challenges and opportunities stakeholders face in promoting greater transparency around land investments, and how effective use of disclosed information can be promoted.

  • Not So Sweet: Tanzania Confronts Arbitration over Large-Scale Sugarcane and Ethanol Project

    Not So Sweet: Tanzania Confronts Arbitration over Large-Scale Sugarcane and Ethanol Project

    The legal battle underscores the challenges that arise when governments, international investors, and the rights of local communities are at odds.

  • DEADLINE EXTENDED–Apply to an internship today

    DEADLINE EXTENDED–Apply to an internship today

    The Earth Institute has extended the internship application deadline for positions in a variety of administration, communications and research roles. Undergraduate, graduate and PhD students are eligible to apply for the opportunity to work on a sustainability-focused project.

  • Fall 2017 Earth Institute Internship Opportunities

    Fall 2017 Earth Institute Internship Opportunities

    The Earth Institute is offering undergraduate, graduate and PhD students with opportunities to intern in various departments and research centers in a variety of administration, communications and research roles. Interns work on a variety of sustainability-focused projects across The Earth Institute. These projects provide interns with hands-on workplace experience, allowing them to grow professionally while…

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

  • NYC is Selling Off Its Fossil Fuel Investments—Here’s Why That Matters

    NYC is Selling Off Its Fossil Fuel Investments—Here’s Why That Matters

    The City of New York joins a chorus of public and private entities refusing to support companies that contribute to climate change.

  • Is There a Human Right to Land?

    Is There a Human Right to Land?

    For people around the world, land is a source of food, shelter, and livelihoods. Given their importance, land rights are surely human rights—right?

  • 3 Uses for OpenLandContracts.org

    3 Uses for OpenLandContracts.org

    Kaitlin Cordes from the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment shares some of the ways she uses this repository of investor-state contracts.

  • Reflecting on OpenLandContracts.org’s First Two Years

    Reflecting on OpenLandContracts.org’s First Two Years

    Kaitlin Cordes from the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment looks back at the progress made by the repository of land investment contracts—and looks ahead to the challenges that await.

  • World Leaders Discuss a Global Pact for the Environment

    World Leaders Discuss a Global Pact for the Environment

    A conference at Columbia University yielded consensus on the need for an international environmental agreement, and advanced discussion on what that agreement could look like.

  • Lorenzo Cotula and Thierry Berger On Transparency around Land Investment Contracts

    Lorenzo Cotula and Thierry Berger On Transparency around Land Investment Contracts

    The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) spoke with Lorenzo Cotula and Thierry Berger about OpenLandContracts.org, the challenges and opportunities stakeholders face in promoting greater transparency around land investments, and how effective use of disclosed information can be promoted.

  • Not So Sweet: Tanzania Confronts Arbitration over Large-Scale Sugarcane and Ethanol Project

    Not So Sweet: Tanzania Confronts Arbitration over Large-Scale Sugarcane and Ethanol Project

    The legal battle underscores the challenges that arise when governments, international investors, and the rights of local communities are at odds.

  • DEADLINE EXTENDED–Apply to an internship today

    DEADLINE EXTENDED–Apply to an internship today

    The Earth Institute has extended the internship application deadline for positions in a variety of administration, communications and research roles. Undergraduate, graduate and PhD students are eligible to apply for the opportunity to work on a sustainability-focused project.

  • Fall 2017 Earth Institute Internship Opportunities

    Fall 2017 Earth Institute Internship Opportunities

    The Earth Institute is offering undergraduate, graduate and PhD students with opportunities to intern in various departments and research centers in a variety of administration, communications and research roles. Interns work on a variety of sustainability-focused projects across The Earth Institute. These projects provide interns with hands-on workplace experience, allowing them to grow professionally while…