State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

elephants

  • Finding My Wild: A Summit for Pride and the Planet 

    Finding My Wild: A Summit for Pride and the Planet 

    Inspired by the freedom found in the mountains, this M.S. in Sustainability Management alum calls for restoring ecosystems and building communities where every living being can flourish authentically.

  • “Tell Us What You Need:” The Essential NGO Mindset

    “Tell Us What You Need:” The Essential NGO Mindset

    M.S. Sustainability Management alum Wendy Hapgood co-founded the Wild Tomorrow Fund, which is currently rewilding a large tract of land in South Africa.

  • Fighting Ivory Trafficking with Forensic Science

    Fighting Ivory Trafficking with Forensic Science

    Last week, just days before Central Park’s big Ivory Crush, a Lamont-Doherty geochemist and his colleague sawed off samples of the confiscated ivory for DNA testing and radiocarbon dating. Their results could determine where and when each elephant was killed—which could help catch the poachers responsible.

  • Science Nabs Illegal Ivory Sellers

    Science Nabs Illegal Ivory Sellers

    A Toronto-based company has been convicted of selling illegal ivory in the first case to use a technique for dating ivory developed by a scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • The Buzz on Elephants

    The Buzz on Elephants

    African-born, Oxford-trained biologist Lucy King recently won an award for a promising solution to a longstanding problem in Africa—elephants raiding crops.

  • Lend me a Helping Trunk

    Lend me a Helping Trunk

    Researchers at the University of Cambridge recently found that elephants understand and can display complex levels of cooperation to reach a common goal.

Collage of Turkiye beach scene and Columbia University Campus with text: UN Climate Change Conference COP31, Antalya, Turkiye, Nov 9-20, 2026

COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More

  • Finding My Wild: A Summit for Pride and the Planet 

    Finding My Wild: A Summit for Pride and the Planet 

    Inspired by the freedom found in the mountains, this M.S. in Sustainability Management alum calls for restoring ecosystems and building communities where every living being can flourish authentically.

  • “Tell Us What You Need:” The Essential NGO Mindset

    “Tell Us What You Need:” The Essential NGO Mindset

    M.S. Sustainability Management alum Wendy Hapgood co-founded the Wild Tomorrow Fund, which is currently rewilding a large tract of land in South Africa.

  • Fighting Ivory Trafficking with Forensic Science

    Fighting Ivory Trafficking with Forensic Science

    Last week, just days before Central Park’s big Ivory Crush, a Lamont-Doherty geochemist and his colleague sawed off samples of the confiscated ivory for DNA testing and radiocarbon dating. Their results could determine where and when each elephant was killed—which could help catch the poachers responsible.

  • Science Nabs Illegal Ivory Sellers

    Science Nabs Illegal Ivory Sellers

    A Toronto-based company has been convicted of selling illegal ivory in the first case to use a technique for dating ivory developed by a scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • The Buzz on Elephants

    The Buzz on Elephants

    African-born, Oxford-trained biologist Lucy King recently won an award for a promising solution to a longstanding problem in Africa—elephants raiding crops.

  • Lend me a Helping Trunk

    Lend me a Helping Trunk

    Researchers at the University of Cambridge recently found that elephants understand and can display complex levels of cooperation to reach a common goal.