State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

mining industry

  • Melting Glacier Floods Arctic Coal Mine, Highlighting Climate Change Paradox

    Melting Glacier Floods Arctic Coal Mine, Highlighting Climate Change Paradox

    Coal mining in Svalbard has long been criticized for the contradictions of allowing the fossil fuel industry to operate in a place where climate changes are felt more harshly than anywhere else on Earth.

  • Does El Salvador’s Metal Mining Ban Suggest a Global Trend?

    Does El Salvador’s Metal Mining Ban Suggest a Global Trend?

    A number of national and local governments are tightening environmental regulations and shutting down specific mining projects, or in some cases the entire industry, due to environmental risks, including those related to water use and pollution.

  • Why Are Mines Still Polluting? The Money’s Not There

    Why Are Mines Still Polluting? The Money’s Not There

    Across the nation, abandoned mine sites continue to pollute the environment for decades as acid mine drainage flows into rivers and streams. A 1980 law was supposed to fix that, but lack of funding and enforcement have left the public stuck with the bill.

  • Project Calculates the Cost of Social Conflict

    Project Calculates the Cost of Social Conflict

    The Columbia Water Center is undertaking a three-year project to quantitatively assess mining-related water and environmental risks and their financial implications.

  • Columbia University and Vale Launch Center on Sustainable International Investment

    April 29, 2008 (NEW YORK and RIO DE JANEIRO) – Columbia University announces the establishment of the Vale-Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment. The first of its kind, the center will promote learning, teaching, policy-oriented research and practical work within the foreign direct investment (FDI) area, paying special attention to the sustainable development dimension of…

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

  • Melting Glacier Floods Arctic Coal Mine, Highlighting Climate Change Paradox

    Melting Glacier Floods Arctic Coal Mine, Highlighting Climate Change Paradox

    Coal mining in Svalbard has long been criticized for the contradictions of allowing the fossil fuel industry to operate in a place where climate changes are felt more harshly than anywhere else on Earth.

  • Does El Salvador’s Metal Mining Ban Suggest a Global Trend?

    Does El Salvador’s Metal Mining Ban Suggest a Global Trend?

    A number of national and local governments are tightening environmental regulations and shutting down specific mining projects, or in some cases the entire industry, due to environmental risks, including those related to water use and pollution.

  • Why Are Mines Still Polluting? The Money’s Not There

    Why Are Mines Still Polluting? The Money’s Not There

    Across the nation, abandoned mine sites continue to pollute the environment for decades as acid mine drainage flows into rivers and streams. A 1980 law was supposed to fix that, but lack of funding and enforcement have left the public stuck with the bill.

  • Project Calculates the Cost of Social Conflict

    Project Calculates the Cost of Social Conflict

    The Columbia Water Center is undertaking a three-year project to quantitatively assess mining-related water and environmental risks and their financial implications.

  • Columbia University and Vale Launch Center on Sustainable International Investment

    April 29, 2008 (NEW YORK and RIO DE JANEIRO) – Columbia University announces the establishment of the Vale-Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment. The first of its kind, the center will promote learning, teaching, policy-oriented research and practical work within the foreign direct investment (FDI) area, paying special attention to the sustainable development dimension of…