State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Millennium Villages Project5

  • Report #4: Lessons Learned, Locally

    By Justin Nobel, Columbia University Earth and Environmental Sciences Journalism Student My time here is coming to an end and I still can’t determine if development will prove sustainable for Sauri’s bird population. The goal of the Millennium Villages Project (MVP) is to help Sauri, and several other villages in sub-Saharan Africa, develop economically. The…

  • Movement to End Poverty Goes Urban in Africa

    Sustainable development demands that two disparate systems — urban and rural — equally meet the needs of their inhabitants without overburdening natural resources. The sustainability of agriculturally based villages, for example, depends on the health and well being of cities for access to large markets and services. Put simply, the sustainable development of one requires…

  • Breaking the Bottlenecks to Fighting Malaria in Africa

    Imagine drawing up the blueprints to save millions of lives, yet without the means or the currency to make those plans a reality. This is a fundamental problem faced by many countries ravaged by malaria, which kills an estimated 3 million annually. Countries are formulating robust and achievable plans to effectively prevent and treat malaria,…

  • Wealth & Giving Forum Inspires Spirit of Giving to Fight Malaria in Africa

    A myriad of messages compete for attention in today’s world. Filtering reliable facts from all the noise can be a time-consuming challenge for philanthropists interested in taking concrete steps to create lasting, positive change. Organizations like the Wealth & Giving Forum are helping families and individuals of means to distill competing demands on philanthropy into…

  • How an Ecologist Moved to the Center of Sustainable Development

    Economists, physicians and a range of social scientists have long found an easy place at the table when it comes to promoting sustainable development in the poorest areas of the world. But an agroecologist? “Agroecologists always feel a little outcast when working on development issues,” says Fabrice De Clerck, an Earth Institute Fellow with the…

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

  • Report #4: Lessons Learned, Locally

    By Justin Nobel, Columbia University Earth and Environmental Sciences Journalism Student My time here is coming to an end and I still can’t determine if development will prove sustainable for Sauri’s bird population. The goal of the Millennium Villages Project (MVP) is to help Sauri, and several other villages in sub-Saharan Africa, develop economically. The…

  • Movement to End Poverty Goes Urban in Africa

    Sustainable development demands that two disparate systems — urban and rural — equally meet the needs of their inhabitants without overburdening natural resources. The sustainability of agriculturally based villages, for example, depends on the health and well being of cities for access to large markets and services. Put simply, the sustainable development of one requires…

  • Breaking the Bottlenecks to Fighting Malaria in Africa

    Imagine drawing up the blueprints to save millions of lives, yet without the means or the currency to make those plans a reality. This is a fundamental problem faced by many countries ravaged by malaria, which kills an estimated 3 million annually. Countries are formulating robust and achievable plans to effectively prevent and treat malaria,…

  • Wealth & Giving Forum Inspires Spirit of Giving to Fight Malaria in Africa

    A myriad of messages compete for attention in today’s world. Filtering reliable facts from all the noise can be a time-consuming challenge for philanthropists interested in taking concrete steps to create lasting, positive change. Organizations like the Wealth & Giving Forum are helping families and individuals of means to distill competing demands on philanthropy into…

  • How an Ecologist Moved to the Center of Sustainable Development

    Economists, physicians and a range of social scientists have long found an easy place at the table when it comes to promoting sustainable development in the poorest areas of the world. But an agroecologist? “Agroecologists always feel a little outcast when working on development issues,” says Fabrice De Clerck, an Earth Institute Fellow with the…