State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

environmental conservation

  • Alumni Spotlight: Becoming the Bridge Between Environmental Science and Policy

    Alumni Spotlight: Becoming the Bridge Between Environmental Science and Policy

    MPA-ESP graduate Patrick Iler reflects on his time in the program and how it helped him hone a career path in conservation and sustainable development.

  • The Truly Serious Side of Roadkill

    The Truly Serious Side of Roadkill

    A new film how India’s fast-expanding road networks is fragmenting the few remaining refuges of many endangered creatures. The results are hard to watch.

  • Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Quiet Green Revolution

    In many respects, Cuomo’s approach to sustainability mirrors the approach taken by Mike Bloomberg when he was New York City’s mayor. Sustainability is viewed as a tool of economic development and environmental goals are integrated into the goals of economic development.

  • A Life Well Mapped

    A Life Well Mapped

    Mark Becker believed in the power of geospatial data and analysis to motivate our stewardship of the environment and guide development of sustainable approaches that balance human and environmental needs.

  • More Than 1,000 to Get Their Feet Wet in Hudson Estuary Project

    For many residents of New York City and upstate communities, the Hudson River is such a constant presence that it can sometimes fade into the background of daily life. On Wednesday, October 12, however, Earth Institute researchers contributed to the efforts of volunteers and students from Troy to Brooklyn in putting the Hudson front-and-center by…

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

  • Alumni Spotlight: Becoming the Bridge Between Environmental Science and Policy

    Alumni Spotlight: Becoming the Bridge Between Environmental Science and Policy

    MPA-ESP graduate Patrick Iler reflects on his time in the program and how it helped him hone a career path in conservation and sustainable development.

  • The Truly Serious Side of Roadkill

    The Truly Serious Side of Roadkill

    A new film how India’s fast-expanding road networks is fragmenting the few remaining refuges of many endangered creatures. The results are hard to watch.

  • Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Quiet Green Revolution

    In many respects, Cuomo’s approach to sustainability mirrors the approach taken by Mike Bloomberg when he was New York City’s mayor. Sustainability is viewed as a tool of economic development and environmental goals are integrated into the goals of economic development.

  • A Life Well Mapped

    A Life Well Mapped

    Mark Becker believed in the power of geospatial data and analysis to motivate our stewardship of the environment and guide development of sustainable approaches that balance human and environmental needs.

  • More Than 1,000 to Get Their Feet Wet in Hudson Estuary Project

    For many residents of New York City and upstate communities, the Hudson River is such a constant presence that it can sometimes fade into the background of daily life. On Wednesday, October 12, however, Earth Institute researchers contributed to the efforts of volunteers and students from Troy to Brooklyn in putting the Hudson front-and-center by…