State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

New York City22

  • Building NYC’s Resilience to Climate Change With Green Infrastructure

    Building NYC’s Resilience to Climate Change With Green Infrastructure

    Climate change will impact New York City through more frequent heavy precipitation, sea level rise and rising temperatures. To strengthen its resilience, the city is planting trees and mini-parks, restoring wetlands and installing more permeable surfaces.

  • In New York City: 5,000 Acres and a Mule?

    In New York City: 5,000 Acres and a Mule?

    It is no surprise that New York City holds one of the world’s densest agglomerations of people and infrastructure; but according to a new report, it is also hides a huge archipelago of potential farmland.

  • A Former Teacher Learns to Be an Effective Change Agent

    A Former Teacher Learns to Be an Effective Change Agent

    Expected to graduate in May 2012, Cindy Hollenberg, is confident that climatology has been her favorite class to date because it’s dynamic, but she can’t choose just one area of environmental policy and management that interests her most. “I have a difficult time choosing just one for the same reason that I was drawn to…

  • Fracking Gains Ground in New York

    Fracking Gains Ground in New York

    Fracking is back in the news again, and in a big way. On July 1, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, backed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration, released its recommendations regarding the controversial natural gas extraction technique. Amidst the din of statewide protests, the agency supported fracking in most of the state’s portion…

  • Ripple Effect Author Talks Efficiency; Cleanup

    Ripple Effect Author Talks Efficiency; Cleanup

    The outlook for global water is bleak, but Alex Prud’Homme still believes in the power of human ingenuity.

  • Science Education with Trees and Canoes

    Science Education with Trees and Canoes

    Students from New York City, Singapore and the Netherlands test their skills this weekend in the woods and on the water near Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in the International Student and Teacher Exchange Program.

  • Clean Water vs. Cheap Energy: Can We Have Both?

    Clean Water vs. Cheap Energy: Can We Have Both?

    The social fabric of a water quality debate: Anti-fracking protesters converge on Albany… again. A battle of wills between advocates of clean water and cheap energy ensues.

  • Paulie, Jimmy and Vinny on NYC’s Water Future

    Paulie, Jimmy and Vinny on NYC’s Water Future

    New York City’s trio of water and sewer czars, explain the reasons behind rising rates.

  • Pennsylvania’s Gasland Spill

    Pennsylvania’s Gasland Spill

    Pennsylvania well spills tens of thousands of gallons of fracking fluid into a nearby creek; Gasland director Josh Fox talks to Columbia University about renewable energy.

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

  • Building NYC’s Resilience to Climate Change With Green Infrastructure

    Building NYC’s Resilience to Climate Change With Green Infrastructure

    Climate change will impact New York City through more frequent heavy precipitation, sea level rise and rising temperatures. To strengthen its resilience, the city is planting trees and mini-parks, restoring wetlands and installing more permeable surfaces.

  • In New York City: 5,000 Acres and a Mule?

    In New York City: 5,000 Acres and a Mule?

    It is no surprise that New York City holds one of the world’s densest agglomerations of people and infrastructure; but according to a new report, it is also hides a huge archipelago of potential farmland.

  • A Former Teacher Learns to Be an Effective Change Agent

    A Former Teacher Learns to Be an Effective Change Agent

    Expected to graduate in May 2012, Cindy Hollenberg, is confident that climatology has been her favorite class to date because it’s dynamic, but she can’t choose just one area of environmental policy and management that interests her most. “I have a difficult time choosing just one for the same reason that I was drawn to…

  • Fracking Gains Ground in New York

    Fracking Gains Ground in New York

    Fracking is back in the news again, and in a big way. On July 1, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, backed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration, released its recommendations regarding the controversial natural gas extraction technique. Amidst the din of statewide protests, the agency supported fracking in most of the state’s portion…

  • Ripple Effect Author Talks Efficiency; Cleanup

    Ripple Effect Author Talks Efficiency; Cleanup

    The outlook for global water is bleak, but Alex Prud’Homme still believes in the power of human ingenuity.

  • Science Education with Trees and Canoes

    Science Education with Trees and Canoes

    Students from New York City, Singapore and the Netherlands test their skills this weekend in the woods and on the water near Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in the International Student and Teacher Exchange Program.

  • Clean Water vs. Cheap Energy: Can We Have Both?

    Clean Water vs. Cheap Energy: Can We Have Both?

    The social fabric of a water quality debate: Anti-fracking protesters converge on Albany… again. A battle of wills between advocates of clean water and cheap energy ensues.

  • Paulie, Jimmy and Vinny on NYC’s Water Future

    Paulie, Jimmy and Vinny on NYC’s Water Future

    New York City’s trio of water and sewer czars, explain the reasons behind rising rates.

  • Pennsylvania’s Gasland Spill

    Pennsylvania’s Gasland Spill

    Pennsylvania well spills tens of thousands of gallons of fracking fluid into a nearby creek; Gasland director Josh Fox talks to Columbia University about renewable energy.