State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

New York City transit

  • Q&A With Sustainable Engineering Expert Tom Abdallah

    Q&A With Sustainable Engineering Expert Tom Abdallah

    The chief environmental engineer for the MTA New York City Transit is currently teaching the Capstone Workshop in the Sustainability Management masters program.

  • Going Electric Adds up to a Good Idea for NYC Buses

    Going Electric Adds up to a Good Idea for NYC Buses

    New York City Transit is considering adding electric buses to its fleet. The purchase price of electric buses is higher than for diesel buses-, but using them would reduce harmful emissions. So is this a good idea?

  • We Need to Finance and Subsidize Mass Transit

    While it would be nice to see a mass transit financing solution included in an effort to rebuild the nation’s depleted highway trust fund, a nation that refuses to tax itself to repair deteriorating roads and bridges appears unlikely to provide funding for mass transit. Still, no effort to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse…

Blue banner with kids and Earth photos. Text: "Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House, Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10am-4pm.

On Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 10am to 4pm, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House—our biggest, best science fun and discovery event of the year—will take place on our beautiful campus in Palisades, NY. Mark your calendar and join us for this free, family-friendly celebration of science! RSVP Today!

  • Q&A With Sustainable Engineering Expert Tom Abdallah

    Q&A With Sustainable Engineering Expert Tom Abdallah

    The chief environmental engineer for the MTA New York City Transit is currently teaching the Capstone Workshop in the Sustainability Management masters program.

  • Going Electric Adds up to a Good Idea for NYC Buses

    Going Electric Adds up to a Good Idea for NYC Buses

    New York City Transit is considering adding electric buses to its fleet. The purchase price of electric buses is higher than for diesel buses-, but using them would reduce harmful emissions. So is this a good idea?

  • We Need to Finance and Subsidize Mass Transit

    While it would be nice to see a mass transit financing solution included in an effort to rebuild the nation’s depleted highway trust fund, a nation that refuses to tax itself to repair deteriorating roads and bridges appears unlikely to provide funding for mass transit. Still, no effort to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse…