State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Mailman School of Public Health6

  • Get the Facts: Arsenic in New Jersey Well Water

    Get the Facts: Arsenic in New Jersey Well Water

    A new initiative aims to help homeowners in New Jersey cope with arsenic contamination in private wells—a problem that has only come to light in recent years, and about which many homeowners are still unaware.

  • The Connection Between Climate and Public Health

    The Connection Between Climate and Public Health

    International Research Institute for Climate and Society and the Mailman School of Public Health will hold a two-day meeting to talk about how climate influences issues of public health, from heat waves to infectious diseases. The event will be livestreamed, and you also can follow it on Twitter at #healthclimate2016.

  • Report Charges ‘Nepotism and Neglect’ on Bangladesh Arsenic Poisoning

    Report Charges ‘Nepotism and Neglect’ on Bangladesh Arsenic Poisoning

    Two decades after arsenic was found to be contaminating drinking water across Bangladesh, tens of millions of people are still exposed to the deadly chemical. Now a new report from the group Human Rights Watch charges that the Bangladesh government “is failing to adequately respond” to the issue, and that political favoritism and neglect have…

  • Battling ‘the Largest Mass Poisoning in History’

    Battling ‘the Largest Mass Poisoning in History’

    As many as one in five deaths in Bangladesh may be tied to naturally occurring arsenic in the drinking water; it is the epicenter of a worldwide problem that is affecting tens of millions of people. For two decades, health specialists and earth scientists from Columbia University have been trying to understand the problem, and…

  • Is City Biking Hazardous to Your Health?

    Is City Biking Hazardous to Your Health?

    As more and more people take to biking in the city, a new study will look at how much pollution bikers are exposed to, and what effects it might be having on their health.

  • Website Maps the Flu, and Predicts Its Progress

    Website Maps the Flu, and Predicts Its Progress

    Infectious disease experts at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health have launched a website that reports weekly predictions for rates of seasonal influenza in 94 cities in the United States.

  • Heat-Related Deaths in Manhattan Projected to Rise

    Killing Season May Push Into Spring and Fall, Says Study

  • This Week’s Forecast: Sunny with a 40 Percent Chance of Flu

    This Week’s Forecast: Sunny with a 40 Percent Chance of Flu

    New computer model takes a page from weather forecasting to predict regional peaks in influenza outbreaks.

  • “Wash your hands!” and Other Advice for Undergraduate Students from Columbia Graduate Students

    “Wash your hands!” and Other Advice for Undergraduate Students from Columbia Graduate Students

    Ph.D. students delving deep into some of the world’s complex sustainability issues offered advice to current undergraduates interested in pursuing their own research questions.

Colorful icons representing nature, sustainable living, and renewable energy with text "Earth Day 2026"

The first Earth Day in 1970 ignited a movement to stop polluting our planet. Today, our scientists and experts are tackling the most pressing challenges to achieve real-world impact. This Earth Day, join us in our commitment to realizing a just and sustainable future for our planet. Visit our Earth Day website for ideas, resources, and inspiration.

  • Get the Facts: Arsenic in New Jersey Well Water

    Get the Facts: Arsenic in New Jersey Well Water

    A new initiative aims to help homeowners in New Jersey cope with arsenic contamination in private wells—a problem that has only come to light in recent years, and about which many homeowners are still unaware.

  • The Connection Between Climate and Public Health

    The Connection Between Climate and Public Health

    International Research Institute for Climate and Society and the Mailman School of Public Health will hold a two-day meeting to talk about how climate influences issues of public health, from heat waves to infectious diseases. The event will be livestreamed, and you also can follow it on Twitter at #healthclimate2016.

  • Report Charges ‘Nepotism and Neglect’ on Bangladesh Arsenic Poisoning

    Report Charges ‘Nepotism and Neglect’ on Bangladesh Arsenic Poisoning

    Two decades after arsenic was found to be contaminating drinking water across Bangladesh, tens of millions of people are still exposed to the deadly chemical. Now a new report from the group Human Rights Watch charges that the Bangladesh government “is failing to adequately respond” to the issue, and that political favoritism and neglect have…

  • Battling ‘the Largest Mass Poisoning in History’

    Battling ‘the Largest Mass Poisoning in History’

    As many as one in five deaths in Bangladesh may be tied to naturally occurring arsenic in the drinking water; it is the epicenter of a worldwide problem that is affecting tens of millions of people. For two decades, health specialists and earth scientists from Columbia University have been trying to understand the problem, and…

  • Is City Biking Hazardous to Your Health?

    Is City Biking Hazardous to Your Health?

    As more and more people take to biking in the city, a new study will look at how much pollution bikers are exposed to, and what effects it might be having on their health.

  • Website Maps the Flu, and Predicts Its Progress

    Website Maps the Flu, and Predicts Its Progress

    Infectious disease experts at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health have launched a website that reports weekly predictions for rates of seasonal influenza in 94 cities in the United States.

  • Heat-Related Deaths in Manhattan Projected to Rise

    Killing Season May Push Into Spring and Fall, Says Study

  • This Week’s Forecast: Sunny with a 40 Percent Chance of Flu

    This Week’s Forecast: Sunny with a 40 Percent Chance of Flu

    New computer model takes a page from weather forecasting to predict regional peaks in influenza outbreaks.

  • “Wash your hands!” and Other Advice for Undergraduate Students from Columbia Graduate Students

    “Wash your hands!” and Other Advice for Undergraduate Students from Columbia Graduate Students

    Ph.D. students delving deep into some of the world’s complex sustainability issues offered advice to current undergraduates interested in pursuing their own research questions.