State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

lakes

  • Ancient Pollen Points to Mega-Droughts in California Thousands of Years Ago

    Ancient Pollen Points to Mega-Droughts in California Thousands of Years Ago

    Ancient pollen spores that were in the air when mammoths roamed Southern California are providing new insights into historic droughts in the region, including how a series of mega droughts 25,500 to 27,500 years ago changed the ecological landscape.

  • Protecting Our Waterways: The Waterkeeper Alliance

    Protecting Our Waterways: The Waterkeeper Alliance

    At any given time, there are dedicated environmentalists around the U.S. working to protect our waterways.These “keepers” are all members of the Waterkeeper Alliance (WKA), an organization of over 200 keepers globally, defending their communities’ rights to clean water.

Banner with images representing environmental issues and text "You Asked: Our Scientists and Experts Answer Your Burning Questions."

You Asked invites you to share your most pressing questions about climate, science, and sustainability. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia Climate School experts will respond with clear, evidence-based answers. Pose your questions and story ideas!

  • Ancient Pollen Points to Mega-Droughts in California Thousands of Years Ago

    Ancient Pollen Points to Mega-Droughts in California Thousands of Years Ago

    Ancient pollen spores that were in the air when mammoths roamed Southern California are providing new insights into historic droughts in the region, including how a series of mega droughts 25,500 to 27,500 years ago changed the ecological landscape.

  • Protecting Our Waterways: The Waterkeeper Alliance

    Protecting Our Waterways: The Waterkeeper Alliance

    At any given time, there are dedicated environmentalists around the U.S. working to protect our waterways.These “keepers” are all members of the Waterkeeper Alliance (WKA), an organization of over 200 keepers globally, defending their communities’ rights to clean water.