National Center for Disaster Preparedness
-

It’s Been One Year Since Wildfires Devastated Los Angeles. What Have We Learned?
In the wake of the fires, our disaster expert says that “we have the lessons we need to do better and recover better, but there is a stubbornness to learning and applying them.”
-

Year in Review: Our Top Stories of 2025
A look back at the stories and videos that shaped our year at State of the Planet.
-

Can Generative AI Help Strengthen Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Among Youth?
New research indicates that GenAI chatbots, if thoughtfully designed and equitably implemented, can serve as a transformative tool for strengthening youth participation in disaster risk reduction.
-

The July 4 Floods in Texas Weren’t a One-Off. They Were a Warning.
We cannot afford to focus solely on short-term fixes, while ignoring the long-term drivers of disaster risk.
-

Societies Are Unprepared for the Human Costs of Climate Overshoot
While scientists have made progress describing overshoot’s physical impacts, its humanitarian and social consequences need greater focus, say the authors.
-

Columbia Climate School’s Global Impact Scholars Confront Urgent, Real-World Problems
Faculty and students worked together on ideas for climate solutions, which were then presented at the Climate School showcase as part of Climate Week NYC.
-

Learning From Local and Global Climate Leaders: Highlights From the Climate School Showcase
As part of this year’s Climate Week NYC, the event included conversations between climate experts, interdisciplinary panels of researchers, and student presentations on the complex issues and possible solutions for the climate crisis.
-

Twenty Years Later: What Lessons Have We Learned From Hurricane Katrina?
As the risk of extreme weather grows, Columbia experts revisit Katrina’s legacy and what it means for future catastrophes.
-

Leveraging Next-Generation Tsunami Early Warning Systems to Save Lives
Tsunami early warning systems save lives not just when they are fast or accurate, but when they are trusted, understood and acted upon.

By studying thousands of buildings and analyzing their electricity use, Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson has been able to uncover ways to significantly cut energy consumption and emissions. Watch the Video: “Engineering a Cooler Future Through Smarter Buildings“
