State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

MS in Sustainability Management News42

  • Catastrophe and Community

    Catastrophe and Community

    Natural disaster reconstruction will not be easy, but our greatest assets in the rebuilding efforts are our communities and our common values.

  • The Disaster of Disaster Reconstruction

    The Disaster of Disaster Reconstruction

    First responders have learned how to reduce the death toll from natural disasters, but America’s long-term response and approach to reconstruction suffers from uncertainty, bureaucracy and inadequate resources of every kind. Until we understand that disaster reconstruction is not part of emergency response, it will remain a disaster.

  • The Human and Financial Cost of Pollution

    The Human and Financial Cost of Pollution

    We need to ensure that our air, water and soil is free of poisons and to do that we need to take pollution control more seriously than we do today. Many industries have found that environmental regulation is compatible with long term production and profits.

  • Contemplating Green Infrastructure in Blue Island, Illinois

    Contemplating Green Infrastructure in Blue Island, Illinois

    Students embark on a field trip to learn about flooding and the challenges of urban resiliency in Chicago and Blue Island, Illinois.

  • Diversity, Tolerance, and Success in the Global Economy

    Diversity, Tolerance, and Success in the Global Economy

    Though Trump’s America doesn’t recognize the value of diversity, New York City views maintaining economic, racial, national and ethnic diversity as an important goal and matter of public policy.

  • Kizzy Charles-Guzmán Named to City & State’s New York City 40 Under 40 List

    Kizzy Charles-Guzmán Named to City & State’s New York City 40 Under 40 List

    Charles-Guzmán explores the disproportionate effects of the changing climate on communities of color and poorer communities.

  • Trump Cannot Stop the Transition to Environmental Sustainability

    Trump Cannot Stop the Transition to Environmental Sustainability

    Trump cannot stop the attention most of us are paying to environmental sustainability, and I remain confident that the transition to a renewable resource-based economy has begun.

  • Puerto Rico’s Peril and Potential

    Puerto Rico’s Peril and Potential

    The federal response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was far too slow and small to deal with the massive scale of the disaster, but the future potential for Puerto Rico could be achieved by constructing a more resilient, storm-resistant built environment.

  • We Need a Government Capable of Building Climate Resilient Infrastructure

    We Need a Government Capable of Building Climate Resilient Infrastructure

    Vulnerable infrastructure is a crisis that calls for enhanced governmental capacity to address a new, national issue of national security.

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.

  • Catastrophe and Community

    Catastrophe and Community

    Natural disaster reconstruction will not be easy, but our greatest assets in the rebuilding efforts are our communities and our common values.

  • The Disaster of Disaster Reconstruction

    The Disaster of Disaster Reconstruction

    First responders have learned how to reduce the death toll from natural disasters, but America’s long-term response and approach to reconstruction suffers from uncertainty, bureaucracy and inadequate resources of every kind. Until we understand that disaster reconstruction is not part of emergency response, it will remain a disaster.

  • The Human and Financial Cost of Pollution

    The Human and Financial Cost of Pollution

    We need to ensure that our air, water and soil is free of poisons and to do that we need to take pollution control more seriously than we do today. Many industries have found that environmental regulation is compatible with long term production and profits.

  • Contemplating Green Infrastructure in Blue Island, Illinois

    Contemplating Green Infrastructure in Blue Island, Illinois

    Students embark on a field trip to learn about flooding and the challenges of urban resiliency in Chicago and Blue Island, Illinois.

  • Diversity, Tolerance, and Success in the Global Economy

    Diversity, Tolerance, and Success in the Global Economy

    Though Trump’s America doesn’t recognize the value of diversity, New York City views maintaining economic, racial, national and ethnic diversity as an important goal and matter of public policy.

  • Kizzy Charles-Guzmán Named to City & State’s New York City 40 Under 40 List

    Kizzy Charles-Guzmán Named to City & State’s New York City 40 Under 40 List

    Charles-Guzmán explores the disproportionate effects of the changing climate on communities of color and poorer communities.

  • Trump Cannot Stop the Transition to Environmental Sustainability

    Trump Cannot Stop the Transition to Environmental Sustainability

    Trump cannot stop the attention most of us are paying to environmental sustainability, and I remain confident that the transition to a renewable resource-based economy has begun.

  • Puerto Rico’s Peril and Potential

    Puerto Rico’s Peril and Potential

    The federal response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was far too slow and small to deal with the massive scale of the disaster, but the future potential for Puerto Rico could be achieved by constructing a more resilient, storm-resistant built environment.

  • We Need a Government Capable of Building Climate Resilient Infrastructure

    We Need a Government Capable of Building Climate Resilient Infrastructure

    Vulnerable infrastructure is a crisis that calls for enhanced governmental capacity to address a new, national issue of national security.