State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

food security6

  • New Grants to Extend Reach of Africa’s Green Revolution

    Earth Institute Projects to Help Farmers Boost Food Production

  • 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.

  • Finding the Link Between Water Stress and Food Prices

    Finding the Link Between Water Stress and Food Prices

    Over the past decade, average global food prices have more than doubled, with 2008 and 2010 seeing excruciating price spikes that each had far-reaching economic, geopolitical and social consequences.

  • A Famine Foretold

    A Famine Foretold

    Climate and food security expert Jim Hansen lays out the root causes of food insecurity in East Africa.

  • Irrigation’s Cooling Effects May Mask Warming–For Now

    If Water Runs Short, Some Regions May Suffer Significantly

  • Food Security Under Climate Change

    In 2008 the world faced one of its most severe food crises in recent history.  Around the world riots broke out in otherwise food-secure nations — places like Egypt, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil.  The world’s governments responded — a major U.N. conference was held in Geneva.  What they discussed there was the fundamental issue of…

  • WFP and Millennium Villages Unite to Cut Hunger, Malnutrition

    UNITED NATIONS – Highlighting the growing challenge of hunger and malnutrition and the urgent need for solutions and partnerships, the World Food Programme and the Millennium Villages project today announced plans to expand joint action to cut hunger and malnutrition across Africa. At a time when one in six people worldwide do not have enough…

  • Operational Coconut Yield Predictions

    The Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRI) has sustained an improved prediction scheme for national coconut production for the last four years. Coconuts are an important source of food and raw materials and also provide income to millions in the tropics. Coconuts are the most important food crop after rice in Sri Lanka and …

  • Scientists to Map Out Earth’s Soil

    New tool will help explain and solve world’s greatest environmental threats

Composite banner with modern building at night and portrait of Dean Alexis Abramson that reads "Science for the Planet"

By studying thousands of buildings and analyzing their electricity use, Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson has been able to uncover ways to significantly cut energy consumption and emissions. Watch the Video: “Engineering a Cooler Future Through Smarter Buildings

  • New Grants to Extend Reach of Africa’s Green Revolution

    Earth Institute Projects to Help Farmers Boost Food Production

  • 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.

  • Finding the Link Between Water Stress and Food Prices

    Finding the Link Between Water Stress and Food Prices

    Over the past decade, average global food prices have more than doubled, with 2008 and 2010 seeing excruciating price spikes that each had far-reaching economic, geopolitical and social consequences.

  • A Famine Foretold

    A Famine Foretold

    Climate and food security expert Jim Hansen lays out the root causes of food insecurity in East Africa.

  • Irrigation’s Cooling Effects May Mask Warming–For Now

    If Water Runs Short, Some Regions May Suffer Significantly

  • Food Security Under Climate Change

    In 2008 the world faced one of its most severe food crises in recent history.  Around the world riots broke out in otherwise food-secure nations — places like Egypt, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil.  The world’s governments responded — a major U.N. conference was held in Geneva.  What they discussed there was the fundamental issue of…

  • WFP and Millennium Villages Unite to Cut Hunger, Malnutrition

    UNITED NATIONS – Highlighting the growing challenge of hunger and malnutrition and the urgent need for solutions and partnerships, the World Food Programme and the Millennium Villages project today announced plans to expand joint action to cut hunger and malnutrition across Africa. At a time when one in six people worldwide do not have enough…

  • Operational Coconut Yield Predictions

    The Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRI) has sustained an improved prediction scheme for national coconut production for the last four years. Coconuts are an important source of food and raw materials and also provide income to millions in the tropics. Coconuts are the most important food crop after rice in Sri Lanka and …

  • Scientists to Map Out Earth’s Soil

    New tool will help explain and solve world’s greatest environmental threats