State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Morningside Park

  • People Power and New York City Parks

    People Power and New York City Parks

    The parks may not get 1% of NYC’s $100 billion budget, but if 1% of the city’s 8.4 million people volunteered to work in their local park, those 84,000 people could clean up a lot of trash and weeds.

  • The Necessity of New York City’s Parks

    The Necessity of New York City’s Parks

    A functioning park system helps address a wide variety of sustainability and social problems.

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

  • People Power and New York City Parks

    People Power and New York City Parks

    The parks may not get 1% of NYC’s $100 billion budget, but if 1% of the city’s 8.4 million people volunteered to work in their local park, those 84,000 people could clean up a lot of trash and weeds.

  • The Necessity of New York City’s Parks

    The Necessity of New York City’s Parks

    A functioning park system helps address a wide variety of sustainability and social problems.