State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

MS in Sustainability Management News48

  • Entrepreneurial Alum Creates Healthier Living Spaces

    Entrepreneurial Alum Creates Healthier Living Spaces

    “In the mainstream market, sustainability is seldom a selling feature. … This makes it challenging for sustainable manufacturers to thrive and provides little incentive for traditional manufactures to green their materials and processes. The market will change when mainstream consumers demand sustainable goods.”

  • The Tools to Build a Green Economy

    The Tools to Build a Green Economy

    What role does public policy play in encouraging and facilitating the green economy? What are the policy tools and incentives that steer green investment effectively?

  • Alum Brings Solar Expertise to the Classroom

    Alum Brings Solar Expertise to the Classroom

    Master of Science in Sustainability Management professor Dan Giuffrida believes that understanding energy, water, and raw material usage with both a technical and financial acumen is imperative. As the instructor for Solar Project Development, professor Giuffrida will prepare students to fully evaluate the technical and financial aspects of a solar project.

  • Alumni Recruit Students for Sustainability Jobs

    Alumni Recruit Students for Sustainability Jobs

    Earth Institute alumni, who were on the job market only one or two years ago themselves, returned to the Columbia University campus in early March to recruit students for sustainability jobs.

  • Competition Challenges Students to Limit Global Warming

    Competition Challenges Students to Limit Global Warming

    Can the global community devise a solution to save the planet from the worst impacts of global climate change? How about doing it in seven hours?

  • Helping Brands Navigate Realistic Sustainable Goals

    Helping Brands Navigate Realistic Sustainable Goals

    MSSM student Kwesi Blair has more than 10 years working in fashion and retail developing strategy. He is concerned by the industry’s lack of awareness and action around sustainability. Kwesi was drawn to the program because of its multidisciplinary approach and the range of academic areas related to sustainability.

  • Watch: a Positive Vision of Sustainability

    Watch: a Positive Vision of Sustainability

    How do we transition to sustainability in a positive and effective way? In this video, Steven Cohen, executive director of the Earth Institute, discusses a positive vision of sustainability—one that avoids the gloom and doom rhetoric so often seen in headlines—and focuses on the technology, ingenuity and innovation that can build a sustainable economy.

  • Thinking Beyond a Job with ‘Sustainability’ in the Title

    Thinking Beyond a Job with ‘Sustainability’ in the Title

    Sustainability Management alum James Ossman (’15) is the Global Operations Manager at Etsy. He believes the MSSM program has been the difference between being interested in and passionate about sustainability, and being able to lead sustainability initiatives with authority.

  • Faculty Profile: Vance Merolla

    Faculty Profile: Vance Merolla

    MS in Sustainability Management faculty member Vance Merolla has worked over the past thirty years as an environmental and sustainability professional for the private sector. As the instructor for SUMA K4170 Sustainable Operations, Merolla focuses on the importance of incorporating sustainability at each step along the value chain, including product design, procurement, distribution, manufacturing, product/service…

Photo of the Earth from space with the text "Lamont at AGU25" on top.

AGU25, the premier Earth and space science conference, takes place December 15-19, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s theme—Where Science Connects Us—puts in focus how science depends on connection, from the lab to the field to the ballot box. Once again, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia Climate School scientists, experts, students, and educators are playing an active role, sharing our research and helping shape the future of our planet. #AGU25 Learn More

  • Entrepreneurial Alum Creates Healthier Living Spaces

    Entrepreneurial Alum Creates Healthier Living Spaces

    “In the mainstream market, sustainability is seldom a selling feature. … This makes it challenging for sustainable manufacturers to thrive and provides little incentive for traditional manufactures to green their materials and processes. The market will change when mainstream consumers demand sustainable goods.”

  • The Tools to Build a Green Economy

    The Tools to Build a Green Economy

    What role does public policy play in encouraging and facilitating the green economy? What are the policy tools and incentives that steer green investment effectively?

  • Alum Brings Solar Expertise to the Classroom

    Alum Brings Solar Expertise to the Classroom

    Master of Science in Sustainability Management professor Dan Giuffrida believes that understanding energy, water, and raw material usage with both a technical and financial acumen is imperative. As the instructor for Solar Project Development, professor Giuffrida will prepare students to fully evaluate the technical and financial aspects of a solar project.

  • Alumni Recruit Students for Sustainability Jobs

    Alumni Recruit Students for Sustainability Jobs

    Earth Institute alumni, who were on the job market only one or two years ago themselves, returned to the Columbia University campus in early March to recruit students for sustainability jobs.

  • Competition Challenges Students to Limit Global Warming

    Competition Challenges Students to Limit Global Warming

    Can the global community devise a solution to save the planet from the worst impacts of global climate change? How about doing it in seven hours?

  • Helping Brands Navigate Realistic Sustainable Goals

    Helping Brands Navigate Realistic Sustainable Goals

    MSSM student Kwesi Blair has more than 10 years working in fashion and retail developing strategy. He is concerned by the industry’s lack of awareness and action around sustainability. Kwesi was drawn to the program because of its multidisciplinary approach and the range of academic areas related to sustainability.

  • Watch: a Positive Vision of Sustainability

    Watch: a Positive Vision of Sustainability

    How do we transition to sustainability in a positive and effective way? In this video, Steven Cohen, executive director of the Earth Institute, discusses a positive vision of sustainability—one that avoids the gloom and doom rhetoric so often seen in headlines—and focuses on the technology, ingenuity and innovation that can build a sustainable economy.

  • Thinking Beyond a Job with ‘Sustainability’ in the Title

    Thinking Beyond a Job with ‘Sustainability’ in the Title

    Sustainability Management alum James Ossman (’15) is the Global Operations Manager at Etsy. He believes the MSSM program has been the difference between being interested in and passionate about sustainability, and being able to lead sustainability initiatives with authority.

  • Faculty Profile: Vance Merolla

    Faculty Profile: Vance Merolla

    MS in Sustainability Management faculty member Vance Merolla has worked over the past thirty years as an environmental and sustainability professional for the private sector. As the instructor for SUMA K4170 Sustainable Operations, Merolla focuses on the importance of incorporating sustainability at each step along the value chain, including product design, procurement, distribution, manufacturing, product/service…