health
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What Happens to Our Brains in a Warming World?
Climate change is already reshaping our brains. How do we act earlier, build resilience and change the trajectory for generations to come?
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What NYC Got Right During the Wildfire Smoke Emergency, According to an Expert
Atmospheric chemist V. Faye McNeill explains our new, smoky normal—and how to stay safe.
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The Endless Shame of Louisiana’s Cancer Alley
In a nation that invented national environmental policy over half a century ago we now see the spectacle of part of America being investigated by an international NGO seeking to protect the human rights of victims of toxic pollution.
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Irwin Redlener on COVID, Politics, and Social Vulnerability
The director of the Pandemic Resource and Response Initiative discusses how inequality, politics and misinformation worsened COVID’s impact in communities across the U.S.
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Study Maps Urban Heat Islands With Focus on Environmental Justice
A new collaborative project is heat-mapping parts of New York City with a focus on improving health outcomes and addressing long-standing environmental justice issues.
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Why Nature Is Good for Us: An Illustrated and Animated Guide
Earth Day is a time to celebrate the natural world. Being in nature can improve our mood and our mental and physical health. Plus, natural areas do a lot of work for us.
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Study Locates Origins of Glacier Soot Pollution in Northern India
By sampling snow from glaciers and tracking pollutants back to their source, the study reveals pathways to reduce harmful pollution in the Indian Western Himalayas.
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Density, Equity, and the History of Epidemics in New York City
The city’s economic success depends on its density. But density also allows contagious diseases to spread. Looking at how the city has managed this conflict in the past could shed light on what the future holds.
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Air Pollution Cuts Are Saving Lives in New York State
Lower air pollution levels saved an estimated 5,660 lives in New York State in 2012, compared to 2002 levels, according to a new study.

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
