State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

ocean acidification4

  • From Distant Past, Lessons on Ocean Acidification

    From Distant Past, Lessons on Ocean Acidification

    Oceans turned more acidic during a period of great warming some 56 million years ago, causing an extinction of bottom-dwelling marine species known as foraminifera, a scenario that may be happening again now, only much more quickly.

  • Have We Crossed the 9 Planetary Boundaries?

    Have We Crossed the 9 Planetary Boundaries?

    “The world needs to awaken itself to the looming catastrophe of global warming,” said Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, at a recent meeting in Muscat. “We must provide a safe operating space where vested interest and lobby-driven policies will not see the world marching into disaster.”

  • Losing Our Coral Reefs

    Losing Our Coral Reefs

    Coral reefs, the “rainforests of the sea,” are some of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on earth. But tragically, they are in crisis.

  • Oceans’ Uptake of Manmade Carbon May Be Slowing

    First Year-by-Year Study, 1765-2008, Shows Proportion Declining

  • Sea Change

    Bärbel Hönisch, an expert on ocean acidification at Columbia, will speak after a screening of the film “A Sea Change” this Thursday.

  • Earth Institute at the American Geophysical Union

    Earth Institute scientists are presenting scores of talks at the world’s largest gathering of earth scientists, the fall 2008 meeting of the American Geophysical Union. Subjects include unseen natural hazards, changing climate, and how mankind will deal with these challenges. Most researchers at AGU come from two of the Earth Institute’s largest centers: Lamont-Doherty Earth…

Collage of Turkiye beach scene and Columbia University Campus with text: UN Climate Change Conference COP31, Antalya, Turkiye, Nov 9-20, 2026

COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More

  • From Distant Past, Lessons on Ocean Acidification

    From Distant Past, Lessons on Ocean Acidification

    Oceans turned more acidic during a period of great warming some 56 million years ago, causing an extinction of bottom-dwelling marine species known as foraminifera, a scenario that may be happening again now, only much more quickly.

  • Have We Crossed the 9 Planetary Boundaries?

    Have We Crossed the 9 Planetary Boundaries?

    “The world needs to awaken itself to the looming catastrophe of global warming,” said Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, at a recent meeting in Muscat. “We must provide a safe operating space where vested interest and lobby-driven policies will not see the world marching into disaster.”

  • Losing Our Coral Reefs

    Losing Our Coral Reefs

    Coral reefs, the “rainforests of the sea,” are some of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on earth. But tragically, they are in crisis.

  • Oceans’ Uptake of Manmade Carbon May Be Slowing

    First Year-by-Year Study, 1765-2008, Shows Proportion Declining

  • Sea Change

    Bärbel Hönisch, an expert on ocean acidification at Columbia, will speak after a screening of the film “A Sea Change” this Thursday.

  • Earth Institute at the American Geophysical Union

    Earth Institute scientists are presenting scores of talks at the world’s largest gathering of earth scientists, the fall 2008 meeting of the American Geophysical Union. Subjects include unseen natural hazards, changing climate, and how mankind will deal with these challenges. Most researchers at AGU come from two of the Earth Institute’s largest centers: Lamont-Doherty Earth…